La solidarité des agriculteurs wallons et français renforce les actions - RTBF Info

RTBF Info

26 Jan 202408:21

Summary

TLDRBelgian and French farmers unite to protest against unrealistic European regulations and unfair foreign competition that is driving down prices. They feel current policies are choking local agriculture and preventing young people from taking over family farms. After months of actions, French farmers start blocking roads heading to Paris to pressure the new government for better prices, less red tape, and policies preserving rural livelihoods. The Agriculture Minister pledges to address their grievances but warns more radical reforms involve complex EU-wide negotiations.

Takeaways

😠 French and Belgian farmers are protesting together against unfair EU regulations and competition.
😫 They feel EU regulations are unrealistic and imports don't follow the same standards.
🚜 Over 100 tractors drove from Malmedy to protest in Brussels.
😖 Farmers say they have to work extra jobs as farming alone doesn't provide a decent living.
😒 Farmers want coherent policies, fair prices, and regulations adapted to realities on the ground.
😞 Young farmers doubt the future of agriculture with decreasing milk prices and increasing costs.
😡 A delegation of young farmers brought the Agriculture Minister a bale of hay representing their grievances.
🤔 The Minister acknowledges their concerns and will advocate for them at the EU level.
😥 French farmers feel asphyxiated by EU measures and continue protesting by blocking roads.
📢 They plan to escalate actions in Paris if the new Prime Minister doesn't address their demands.

Q & A

Why are the farmers protesting?
-The farmers are protesting unfair prices for their products, unrealistic regulations, and unfair competition from imported products that don't meet the same standards.
What are some of the specific difficulties faced by farmers?
-Falling prices, rising costs, increasing regulations and standards, difficulty making a living, competition from imports, intergenerational transition issues.
What symbolic action did the farmers take?
-They overturned road signs at the entrance to their town to call for common sense from public authorities.
How did the minister respond to the farmers' complaints?
-The agriculture minister said he would do everything to escalate their grievances at the EU level, as he agrees reform is needed to ensure decent incomes and facilitate intergenerational transition.
Are the issues faced by French and Belgian farmers the same?
-Yes, French and Belgian farmers say they feel they are in the same predicament regarding EU regulations, income issues, generational renewal problems, and feel united in their struggles.
What actions are French farmers taking?
-Blocking major roads, burning a caravan, heading to Paris to put pressure on the new Prime Minister to make agriculture announcements.
What is planned in Paris by protesting farmers?
-Blocking and slowing down traffic on 5 major highways leading to Paris between 2pm-midnight to maximize pressure on the new government.
Until when do some farmers plan to continue protests?
-Some farmers plan to continue protest actions until at least the annual Agriculture Fair in a month.
What financial issues do young farmers wanting to take over face?
-Falling milk prices, rising feed costs, and increasingly strict regulations make intergenerational transition very difficult financially.
What role can Belgium play in influencing EU agricultural policy?
-As current president of the Council of the EU, Belgium can directly discuss and aim to reform the Common Agricultural Policy.

Outlines

00:00

😡 French and Belgian farmers protest together against EU agricultural policies

Paragraph 1 describes French farmers gathering at a roundabout to protest for fair prices and regulations. Reporter David Watel covers the protest, which involves around 100 tractors coming from Malmedy. Farmer Flori hopes to be heard, saying EU policies don't match reality. The convoy grows at each highway exit, like in Verviers, where farmer David explains he must work a second job because farming alone doesn't pay enough with current prices and conditions.

05:00

😥 French and Belgian farmers feel united in their difficulties with EU policies

Paragraph 2 covers French and Belgian farmers protesting together at the border. A delegation of tractors came from France and Belgium to completely block the border crossing because farmers on both sides feel misunderstood by politicians. They are overwhelmed by EU regulations and feel united in their struggles, as a French farmer explains. The farmers plan to keep applying pressure with actions across Europe.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡agriculteurs

The French word for farmers. The video focuses heavily on farmers, particularly young farmers, who are protesting across France and Belgium. They are upset about declining prices, increasing costs, and strict regulations that make it hard to earn a living.

💡manifestation

French word for protest or demonstration. The video covers farmer protests against unfair prices and regulations. They stage demonstrations like blocking roads and burning objects to demand change.

💡prix

French word for prices. Low prices for agricultural goods are a major grievance for the protesting farmers. They want fairer prices so they can earn a living.

💡réglementations

French word for regulations. Farmers protest strict EU regulations on farming practices. They see the rules as unrealistic and put them at a disadvantage.

💡concurrence

French word for competition. Farmers complain of unfair competition from imported goods that don't face the same stringent EU standards.

💡rémunération

French word for income/pay. Farmers say their pay is too low to make a decent living due to low prices and high costs.

💡gouvernement

French word for government. The protesting farmers want government action on prices and regulations. They target political leaders to force change.

💡PAC

Acronym for Politique Agricole Commune or Common Agricultural Policy. This EU-wide policy sets standards and subsidies but is seen as harmful by farmers.

💡frontalier

Relating to borders/frontiers. The video notes joint French-Belgian protests at border crossings as both share the same EU agricultural policy concerns.

💡durcir

French phrase meaning to toughen/harden. Towards the end, farmers threaten to further intensify protests if demands are not met.

Highlights

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