(MENAFN) Farmers in France staged widespread protests on Wednesday, expressing discontent over low wages, perceived excessive regulations, rising costs, and other challenges faced by the agricultural sector. The demonstrations, marked by roadblocks in various French regions, come on the heels of a tragic incident where a farmer and her daughter lost their lives in a traffic collision at a protest barricade.
In addition to roadblocks, farmers have resorted to turning road signs upside down as a symbolic gesture against what they perceive as nonsensical agricultural policies. The protests extend beyond France, with some farmers planning to rally in Brussels, the headquarters of the European Union (EU). The French farmers' union Rural Coordination has called for a demonstration in the Belgian capital, highlighting concerns about the "ever-increasing constraints of European regulations and ever-lower incomes."
These demonstrations pose the first significant challenge for newly appointed Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, who assumed office just two weeks ago, and his government. In response to the unrest, Prime Minister Attal met with representatives of farmers' unions on Tuesday. Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau, after the meeting, pledged to present new proposals by the end of the week, addressing issues such as food prices and streamlining regulations to alleviate the crisis.
Arnaud Rousseau, the head of France's major farmers union FNSEA, announced plans to release a list of 40 essential measures later in the day. During an interview on France 2 television, he underscored that the protest movement is geared towards achieving swift and tangible results, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the pressing issues faced by the agricultural community.
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