Economy
Why farmers are heading to Paris
The starting signal was given by the Finistériens. The first tractors set off Tuesday1 September of the tip of Brittany. Objective: Paris, to mobilize farmers orchestrated by the FNSEA Thursday, September 3. Meanwhile, Stéphane Le Foll met European Commissioner Phil Hogan, to prepare the special summit of agriculture ministers of Twenty-Eight, held at the request of France, Monday, September 7th.
Read also: Dairy farmers trapped overproduction
FNSEA is no secret. She wants to pressure the government and regain control of his troops in preparation for the Brussels summit. This is also at the exit of a meeting at the Elysee Palace with François Hollande, August 24, the first French farmers' union announced color. He promised to unsheathe the heavy artillery with over 1000 tractors launched an assault on the capital.
An "extension" required
The first battalion, Breton as it should in claims 70. The representatives of the more remote regional federations shall come, they, more prosaically, by bus or train. The tractors will be in large part channeled grain of Ile-de-France, who come to reap a fruitful harvest. "Cereal Ile besiege Paris," they trumpet their release. But also by the beet growers of northern France, who joined the movement as well as rapeseed producers. Fruit growers, vegetable growers and of course breeders complement troops.
The FNSEA, associated in this mobilization to Young farmers (JA), wants to speak "in the name of French agriculture" and ask, once again, fewer environmental standards, fewer controls and more tax breaks. Words of recurring order for the proponents of industrial agriculture. They denounce the loss of competitiveness of French farms exposed to global competition. And distortions of competition, in particular social, even within the European Union (EU).
Faced with a hot summer, with multiple actions on the ground by dairy farmers, pig producers and beef, the government attempts to defuse the field. In the heart of summer, on July 22, the executive announced an emergency plan for breeding. The various support measures totaled 600 million euros. Before his show of force, Xavier Beulin, president of the FNSEA, called an "extension" to the plan. And launched the figure of 3 billion euros, according to him, would be needed to reduce the gap in competitiveness between France and Germany.
"Windfall effect"
Threats of FNSEA weigh on the government and especially its spokesman and Minister of Agriculture, Stephane Le Foll. Keen to extinguish the fire,
François Hollande promised a new package Thursday, September 3. Mr. Beulin and a delegation of the FNSEA should also be received that day at Matignon by the Prime Minister, Manuel Valls.
François Hollande promised a new package Thursday, September 3. Mr. Beulin and a delegation of the FNSEA should also be received that day at Matignon by the Prime Minister, Manuel Valls.
Meanwhile, Mr Le Foll prepares the extraordinary summit in Brussels called by France to discuss the problems of dairy farmers but also pigs. He met his counterparts from Spain and Portugal and the German Minister of Agriculture.Tuesday, he went to Brussels dialogue with the European Agriculture Commissioner, Phil Hogan, which should make proposals. And then discussed again with his German counterpart. The consensus is not obvious. Discussions focus on technical measures meant to curb the collapse of milk prices and the pork, caused by overproduction.
Read also: "I'm sick of your pigs! "
All French players in the dairy industry require an increase in the intervention price. A guaranteed minimum price at which the public authorities may buy the surpluses to store them. Today, it is set at 210 euros per tonne and limited to 109 000 tonnes. A number of countries, including Belgium, Lithuania, Poland and the UK, have already bought the price of skim milk powder stocks. The French dairy sector demand that the purchase threshold be raised to 270 euros.A proposal that does not suit Germany, which fears the "windfall". Would prefer increased intervention volumes.
Two visions oppose
The issue of employment of the envelope fines collected within the EU for exceeding quotas in 2014 will also be at the heart of the debate. Brussels had budgeted an amount of 450 million euros. It actually would reach 900 million euros. This anticipation of the end of milk quotas, set for 1 April 2015, has also contributed to the current global overproduction. Some wish that this budget used to finance the livestock support measures. But it is the Commission who will make the choice of his award. And assistance to migrants is part of its political priorities.
For pork, the discussions will focus on an extension of private storage supports for, again, lower volumes in the market and support prices. And especially on negotiations with Russia on the removal of all or part of EU members of the health embargo that weighs on sales offal since 2014.
At the summit of 7 September, European producers have decided to demonstrate. But unanimity is inappropriate. Copa-Cogeca, the European equivalent of the FNSEA, has called for demonstrations. But also the European Milk Board (EMB), which in turn promotes a profitable price in attempting to control production within the EU. Two visions of agriculture in Brussels streets.For beyond emergency measures, Europe must reflect on its agricultural policy.And perhaps find solutions to better coexist different models. The link to the land, which is the wealth of the French wine industry, bio requested by consumers and signs of quality chains are assets to thrive as well as large industrial cultures.
Laurence Girard
Journalist with WorldWatch Go to this reporter
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