Paris was brought to a standstill Thursday as hundreds of French farmers, driving tractors, blockaded streets near the Eiffel Tower. The action, orchestrated by several agricultural unions, aimed to protest the proposed free trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc.
Approximately one hundred tractors converged on the city center, causing significant disruption to traffic and tourist access. The farmers are deeply concerned that the Mercosur agreement, which includes countries like Brazil, will lead to a flood of cheap agricultural imports into Europe, severely impacting their livelihoods and profits.
Bertrand Vento, head of France’s second-largest agricultural union, stated in a radio interview, “The mission has been accomplished.” He later criticized members of parliament following a meeting, accusing them of contributing to the demise of French agriculture over the past three decades.
The ‘Rural Coordination’ union, known for its opposition to the EU-Mercosur trade deal, has expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s response. They also voiced concerns regarding the government’s handling of the spread of lumpy skin disease among cattle, an issue that sparked protests in southwestern France last December.
Speaking on BFM TV, Vento lamented the lack of response from authorities and criticized what he described as overly restrictive French regulations. He reiterated the call from some quarters for the abolition of environmental agencies.
Prior to the demonstration at the Eiffel Tower, representatives from the union met with parliamentary officials near the Arc de Triomphe and the National Assembly. The tractors, adorned with banners proclaiming “No to Mercosur,” lined up near the iconic landmark before dawn.
The Eiffel Tower, a major global tourist attraction, receives an average of 7 million visitors annually, with 80% coming from abroad. The monument generates approximately 78.5 million euros in revenue each year. The farmers hope that their actions will draw attention to their plight and pressure the government to reconsider its position on the trade agreement.
DZWatch has learned that the President of the National Assembly briefly met with protestors at around 11:00 AM, where she was met with jeers.
This is a developing story.
