French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal further added fuel to the fire last Friday by attributing the cutting of the Spanish border to “unfair competition” from Spanish agriculture.
Leaders of the Murcian agricultural sector consider the situation in the countryside to be particularly criticalHe highlighted the pressure exerted by the “Green Pact and the 2030 Agenda” on production, which is subject to new limits and regulations of an environmental nature, increasing costs, as COAG president José Miguel Marín told La Opinión . “This puts us in a complicated situation. The flexibility that was promised to us has not materialized,” Marín said.
Asaja’s general secretary, Alfonso Gálvez, thinks that “the situation requires a strong response”. Although prices for energy products have been reduced, “we are not covering the costs” because raw materials and supplies continue to become expensive, Gálvez points out.
Marcos Alarcón, secretary general of the national UPA, is not in favor of the call for mobilization. He states that the purpose of today’s meeting is to “move forward” and “evaluate” alternatives. Note that one of the main demands of French farmers is the maintenance of agricultural diesel, “but in Spain the Ministry guaranteed it for the entire legislature and for the reinstatement of the Hydrocarbon Tax. Marcos Alarcón thinks the protests blocking France’s roads “cannot be legitimized”.“They have a problem that they are presenting to their government,” he says.
In addition to maintaining tax exemptions on agricultural diesel, French farmers’ demand reducing the bureaucracy and controls they are subject to For EU, Changes in European policies to prevent imports of foods that have a competitive advantage in production and do not need to meet such stringent standards.
On the other hand, although farmers largely shared the demands of their French and German counterparts, they also rejected criticism from French unions, who accused the Spanish countryside of unfair competition for continuing practices that Spain condemns other foreign countries. to the EU, Such as the use of phytosanitary products prohibited by the Community Administration.
National COAG general secretary, Miguel Padilla called the statements “wrong” and “outrageous” French political representatives did this by describing Spain as a “foreign country” with “more tolerant legislation than French legislation”. Padilla added that “there is no mention of product entry from Morocco.”
Moreover Alfonso Gálvez believes the accusations are “unfounded” and responds by saying that European regulations governing the use of products such as phytosanitary products are the same “for all European agriculture”.
According to the UPA, the French Prime Minister’s statements are “unpresentable”. Fepex remembers that France is the main gateway of Moroccan products to the world. EU.
The European Commission once again asked France for an explanation regarding the road closure and the attacks of its farmers on Spanish transporters on the border of this country, and warned that it would take measures if necessary.
Brussels demanded an explanation from France about the overturning of trucks
At the request of the Spanish authorities, on January 26, the Community Administration requested information from the French Government about disruptions on roads and motorways and the measures it plans to facilitate the free movement of goods on the European market. “The Commission is aware of widespread complaints in the farming community and is working with Member States and stakeholders to address these on a priority basis. However, this is not an excuse to block or destroy the products of other farmers in other Member States,” a spokesman said. For the European Executive Board.