French farmers have blocked roads across the country to demand government action to resolve numerous grievances, as protests spread across the European Union's agricultural sector. Here are some of the issues driving the growing protest movement and how the government can respond.
Why are farmers protesting?
Farmers in France, the European Union's largest agricultural producer, say they are not paid enough and are being stifled by excessive environmental regulations.
Some concerns, such as competition from cheaper imports and environmental rules, are shared by producers in the rest of the EU, while others, such as negotiations over food prices, are more relevant to France.
What is the cost issue?
On the financial side, farmers argue that pressure from the government and retailers to reduce food inflation has left many producers unable to cover high energy, fertilizer and transportation costs.
The government's plan to phase out the farmer tax break on diesel as part of a broader energy transition policy has also been the subject of controversy, reflecting tensions in Germany.
Protest against fuel imports?
Large imports from Ukraine, whose quotas and duties have been waived by the EU since the Russian invasion, and new negotiations for a trade deal between the EU and the South American bloc Mercosur, have fueled discontent over unfair competition in sugar, grains and meat. sectors.
Large imports are resented because they put pressure on European prices and do not meet environmental standards imposed on EU farmers.
What are the complaints about the environment and bureaucracy?
When it comes to the environment, farmers disagree with EU rules on subsidies, such as the requirement to leave 4% of farmland fallow, and with what they see as France's overly complex implementation of EU policy, such as restoring hedgerows and arable land. Earth as a natural habitat.
Green policies are seen as contradictory to the goals of becoming more self-sufficient in the production of food and other basic goods in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Conflicts over irrigation projects as water resources have also become a focus of debate about climateCriticisms of animal welfare and pollution in agriculture have heightened sentiment among the elderly French farming population, who feel ignored by society.
What measures can the government take?
The government, under pressure to defuse the crisis ahead of European elections in June and the annual Paris agricultural fair next month, has postponed a draft law on how to attract more candidates to agriculture to add other measures.
The government promised to simplify procedures for farmers. This could mean reducing wait times for subsidy payments or approval of agricultural projects, or even simplifying bureaucracy and audits related to environmental compliance.
The government may abandon its plan to phase out the diesel tax break, although it has already relaxed the measure, spreading it out over several years and offering to reinvest the money in agriculture.
Some changes, such as changing the fallow rule, must be approved by the European Union, and farmers warn that any concessions could come too late for this year's production plans.
As in previous agricultural crises, the government may provide emergency aid. He has already promised funding for wine producers hurt by falling consumption and for farmers affected by floods in the north and livestock disease in the south, but he may announce more money and faster payments.
