Farmers are frustrated by EU rules, rising costs and uncontrolled competition. Their anger threatens to undermine the EU’s climate targets and reshape the political landscape ahead of European Parliament elections in June. The publication writes about this New York Times .
“It’s about choosing between the end of the world and the end of the moon. “There is no point in talking about agricultural practices that help protect the environment if farmers cannot make a living,” said Arnaud Rousseau, president of FNSEA, France’s largest farmers’ union.
The protest movement strengthened the position of far-right forces that took advantage of popular discontent. That’s why Marine Le Pen, leader of the French anti-immigrant National Rally party, calls EU plans to reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers by 2030 “punitive ecology.”
According to a poll in Le Monde, his party could get 31% of the vote in the European elections, ahead of Emmanuel Macron’s party (18%). Although few voices come directly from farmers, their complaints resonate with the wider population.
“Rural areas are home to guardians of national traditions under pressure from globalization, political correctness and immigration, not to mention the impact of environmental regulations that run counter to common sense,” said Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally party.
Fabrice Monnery, who owns 430 acres of land, blames his troubles on Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, which increased fertilizer and electricity prices.
“Our Minister of Economy said we would destroy Russia economically. But what is destroying us is the conflict in Ukraine,” he says angrily.
Many farmers are disappointed by demands that 4 percent of land be left uncultivated to “green” Europe. The publication writes that this rule has already been suspended for a year.
To soften the protests, the EU is being forced to make concessions on environmental initiatives, from repealing the anti-pesticide bill to scrapping a diesel fuel tax for farm equipment. But experts doubt such half-measures will be enough to reform the outdated agricultural system.
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