French farmers lift Paris siege after government concessions

French farmers Thursday lifted their blockades around Paris after the Macron administration reportedly promised to ease climate mandates.

Last week convoys of tractors besieged the city by blocking major roads with eight choke points. The siege was an escalation of months of protests after European Union politicians signed a law in November to “restore nature,” which requires EU countries to restore at least 20% of the bloc’s land and seas by 2030. 

In France, the Macron administration reacted to the law by implementing climate restrictions such as requiring farmers to leave 4% of their land lying fallow. The government also proposed cutting back on subsidies for agricultural diesel, though this was dropped after farmers nationwide launched heated protests. Particularly egregious for French farmers was the government’s decision to import produce from other countries like Ukraine. These products are well-preserved with pesticides which European farmers are banned from using by EU regulation.

Last week emergency negotiations were held between government officials and two of France’s largest farmer’s unions in response to the siege. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal reportedly made a series of concessions, which included a promise to relax climate mandates as permitted by EU regulations. Farmers were also promised that France will strengthen pesticide checks on food imports.

“It makes no sense to ban pesticides in France before such decisions are taken on an EU level. We will end this practice,” Attal said.

In addition, the government will invest approximately €400 million ($434.36 million) in emergency measures designed to help struggling farmers and wine producers, as well as €200 million ($2.15 million) in cash advances, reports Reuters.

The farmers agreed to lift the blockade on condition that the government show delivery on its promises, and stressed that they are ready to re-mobilize “in a few days” if necessary. The National Federation of Farmers’ Unions (FNSEA), said it expects to see new measures from the government by the start of the trade fair in three weeks, and at least one law passed this June.

Following the negotiations, French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the need for a “profound” change in its agriculture laws to avoid further crises.

The concessions may be a beacon of hope to farmers in other countries such as Germany, Poland, Belgium, Romania, and the Netherlands, who have also taken to the streets in response to the EU’s nature restoration law. No sieges in those countries have yet been reported.