Latest: French farmer protests disrupt motorways and access to ski resorts
Action intensifies ahead of Mercosur trade deal vote on December 19
Protests were initially sparked by orders to cull cows infected with lumpy skin disease
K-FK/Shutterstock
Farmers continue to block several motorways in France today (December 18) and are expanding protest action to access routes to ski resorts in the lead up to tomorrow’s Mercosur trade deal vote.
Yesterday saw at least 80 separate protests with more than 3,600 farmers across France protesting according to France’s Interior Ministry.
Early morning reports show farmers have not eased road blockades, with the A61, A64, A645, N21, and N125 in the south-west facing disruption.
"As long as we don't get a response from the government, a concrete response, we won't budge," said farmer and member of the Jeunes Agriculteurs union Alexandre Garcia, who is taking part in blockades of the A61, to FranceInfo.
Further blockades may come into force throughout the day – use our guide to check the status of roads near you.
Demonstrations by farmer convoys are also expected in Gironde, Ille-et-Vilaine, Haute-Savoie, Eure-et-Loir, and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence across the day.
A recent poll for BFMTV by Elabe saw 58% of people in France say they back the blockades in response to government demands on culling livestock.
Recent blockades on the A63 at the Franco-Spanish border have led to delays to trucks delivering foodstuff and goods including Christmas parcels with truck drivers then under pressure to meet deadlines.
Drivers say they are being forced to drive recklessly to meet demand. Residents in the Gironde report a rise in the number of trucks using smaller roads and driving through village centres.
Agricultural Minister Annie Genevard has called for calm over the Christmas period but unions and groups including the leading farming union FNSEA and influential Confédération paysanne say they will back continuing action if they deem it necessary.
The protests are mainly concentrated in the south-west - although union branches across France including in Brittany, Centre-Val de Loire, and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes all back local action.
Alongside road blockades, demonstrations are set to be held at symbolic locations such as town halls and public agricultural management buildings including the Draaf centre in Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine).
Throughout the Pyrénées, farmers are set to block access to several ski resorts, with operators saying it could result in a loss of up to 30% of revenue from trade and potentially close resorts for good.
The first blockade has been set up at Arreau, impacting the Saint-Lary-Soulan resort. Further blockades are set to be put up throughout the coming days.
Farmers say they have no choice as they are determined to be listened to.
Farmers are angry over the government response to lumpy skin disease outbreaks in cattle – although close to a million vaccines are set to be administered to cattle herds.
However, the action is also highlighting wider farmer discontent, with agricultural workers saying they are in financial jeopardy.
This includes continued anger over the Mercosur free-trade agreement between the EU and South America, which EU countries are set to vote on tomorrow (December 19).
Despite France and Italy posturing against the deal, Brazilian President Lula has told the EU that if the deal is not signed in the coming days it will be fully withdrawn while he remains president.
FNSEA president Arnaud Rousseau said farmers will be called to action if the Mercosur deal passes.
Rail travel blocked yesterday
Yesterday also saw widespread delays to rail traffic in the south-west after farmers dumped materials including stacks of hay onto rail lines. There are no reports of similar activity today (December 18).
The FNSEA has called for demonstrations outside EU offices in Brussels today – a show of strength prior to the Mercosur vote – which may see fewer farmers protesting in France. Up to 500 farmers from Normandy are set to descend on Brussels.
Whether protests continue into the Christmas week will largely depend on the Mercosur vote, although unions and farmers have issued warnings that disruption will escalate if the trade deal is approved.
