This Thursday, the French Farmers' Union announced the suspension of the lockdown and expressed its intention to **tighten food import controls**. This decision was made against the backdrop of a call for food self-sufficiency while declaring the protection of farmers from unfair competition.
According to British media, France's two major agricultural unions, the Jeunes Agriculteurs (Young Farmers) Union and the FNSEA Union, have jointly called for a halt to the lockdown of Paris and other cities. Previously, they tightened food import controls through blockade operations***. However, with the announcement of a plan to protect farmers from unfair competition and achieve food self-sufficiency, the Farmers' Union decided to change its course of action.
Specifically, the Farmers' Union demanded a moratorium on the lockdown and sought new forms of mobilization. They stressed the need to follow up on the announced measures and ensure that they are implemented in practice. In addition, they demanded that the relevant laws be submitted to Parliament and that actions be implemented across Europe.
The end of the lockdown comes after Prime Minister Gabriel Attar announced that France would take measures to protect farmers from the "law of the jungle" and strengthen food import controls. Attar said agriculture will be protected from unfair competition through measures such as financial support and banning the use of specific pesticides. In addition, environmental regulations on agriculture that exceed those required by the European Union will be stopped and agreements with South American countries will be ruled out.
At the European level, France** Emmanuel Macron met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to discuss the future of European agriculture. Macron said France had succeeded in convincing the European Union to impose stricter rules on grain and poultry imports, including imports from Ukraine. In addition, Macron called on the EU to make a substantial simplification of red tape by the end of February.
While the Farmers' Union endorsed some of the measures, they also noted that there were still some issues that needed to be clarified. The trade unions believe that EU decision-making is too technical and lacks respect for the work of farmers. They stressed that agricultural conservation is closely linked to Europe's future and urged world leaders to understand the importance of protecting European agriculture.
Finally, while the Farmers' Union suspended the lockdown, they said they would not hesitate to participate in a wider range of activities if there was no further progress. The incident highlights the concerns of French farmers about food import controls, as well as their calls for agricultural protection and self-sufficiency. As the dialogue between the Farmers' Union and ** continues, people will continue to follow the development of this issue.