Farmers in Belgium protest as thousands continue demonstrations across France – Europe live | France

Farmers’ lobby says family farming ‘in danger’

Ajit Niranjan

“The survival of European family farming as it is known today is in danger,” Europe’s biggest farming lobby said today.

In an open letter to the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, lobby group Copa and Copega blamed the protests on farmers not being heard.

Economic burdens and bureaucracy are strangling farmers across the EU. Across the EU, the effects of climatic and geopolitical crises are impacting our farms considerably. And all this with the feeling that more constraints and more European regulations are going to be imposed on farms, with severe and irreversible consequences on production, income and increase of imports with less environmental and social standards.

In the last weeks, efforts to curb pollution or make farmers pay more for fuels like diesel have sparked protests in several European countries. The EU spends about one-third of its budget on its common agricultural policy, mostly in the form of direct payment to farmers, and the sector does not have to pay the costs of its planet-heating pollution.

Scientists, meanwhile, have warned of worsening crop failures and yield losses as Europe heats up and its wildlife dies out.

The latest round of protests come just a week after von der Leyen last week launched a “strategic dialogue on the future of EU agriculture”.

Copa and Copega said it welcomed the long-term discussion but called for short-term answers on environmental rules and trade. The group singled out the Mercosur free trade agreement with several South American countries as “unacceptable” for most EU farmers.

At this moment, a continuous push for getting the deal across the line will be perceived as a further provocation by the farming community, and will increase the rejection for decisions taken by the European Commission.

Commission says proposed delay for ‘set aside’ rule a ‘helping hand’ for farmers

Lisa O’Carroll

Maroš Šefčovič , the European Commission vice president responsible for environmental policy-making, said the delay until 2025 of a new “set aside” rule for farmers was “a helping hand’ for the sector at a difficult time.

He said:

In recent months and years, European farmers have found themselves under increasing pressure from many sides, climate change and the loss of biodiversity combined with geopolitical turmoil and soaring energy prices.

He also said they are now facing the driving up of costs of production and squeezing of revenues.

“For instance, the value of cereal production in the European Union dropped by nearly 30% in 2023,” he said.

The Commission believes that by taking the stabilising action, we can help alleviate the pressure that we know our farmers are feeling in order to ensure that they can stay economically viable during these times of high uncertainty.

The proposal has to be approved by member states.

“The ball is now in the courts of the member states who must decide whether to turn our proposal into reality. If so, the derogation would apply retroactively, as of January 2024,” said Šefčovič.

EU Commission recommends delay in fallow lands rules amid farmer protests

Lisa O’Carroll

The European Commission is recommending to EU leaders to delay the introduction of rules that require farmers to keep a certain amount of land fallow or non-productive.

Opposition to the so-called set aside rules has partly fuelled the farmer protests across Europe in France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Spain and Italy.

Under the proposal the set aside rule would not apply until next year.

“The Commission’s proposal, sent today to Member States who will vote on it in a committee meeting, provides a first concrete policy response to address farmers’ income concerns. It also follows requests outlined by several Member States in Agriculture Council meetings,” the Commission said in a statement.

Farmers in Belgium are also continuing to protest. The authorities have advised people not to come to Brussels by car on Wednesday and Thursday.

Valérie Hayer, a French politician and president of the Renew Europe group in the European parliament, has spoken out about the impact of Brexit.

“Four years ago, the United Kingdom left us,” she wrote, adding:

Purchasing power, social security, global influence, border protection: nothing, absolutely nothing, has been a success. The populists lied to the British.

The French far-right politician Marine Le Pen has come out in first place in Le Figaro Magazine’s barometer of top 10 political personalities in France.

For the study, people were asked to rate political figures, based on whether they would like to see them play an important role over the months and years to come.

Le Pen came in at 40%, followed closely by Édouard Philippe, a former prime minister. Jordan Bardella, Le Pen’s 28-year old political ally, came in third.

The study also found that only 24% have confidence in the French president, Emmanuel Macron.

The poll, which was conducted by Verian-EPOKA for Le Figaro Magazine, also found that 33% have confidence in Gabriel Attal, the new prime minister.

Polling was conducted between 28-30 January.

Greece rescued 57 migrants close to the island of Lesbos and recovered the bodies of two people, the coastguard said, Reuters reported. Another person is believed to be missing.

Speaking this morning, the French interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, said that there are more than 100 blocking points and about 10,000 demonstrators today.

It’s another day of protests in France, as farmers continue blocking roads.

Marc Fesneau, the agriculture minister, is set to hold talks in Brussels later today.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, is expected to discuss concerns related to the agriculture sector with the European Commission’s president, Ursula von der Leyen, in Brussels tomorrow.

Good morning and welcome back to the Europe blog.

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