Stay informed with free updates
Just sign up to agriculture myFT Digest: delivered straight to your inbox.
A major agricultural fair in Paris descended into clashes between riot police and farmers as Emmanuel Macron promised more financial aid for agriculture, in the latest sign of tensions across Europe over food production.
Dozens of angry farmers stormed the annual Salon de l’Agriculture in Paris before it opened on Saturday, battling with police trying to contain the crowd. Several protesters were arrested.
The French president tried to calm the reaction by promising more financial aid to farmers in difficulty. He said he will push Brussels to introduce greater protection for farmers across the EU and to add minimum prices to existing French law to ensure farmers can cover production costs when negotiating with retailers.
But he had to give up taking a walk in the lounge, where the French president traditionally visits every year. Instead she held a meeting with farmers who listed their grievances.
Thousands of visitors were left queuing outside as the opening of the event was delayed by several hours.
“We will not be able to solve the agricultural crisis in a few hours,” Macron said. “I ask for calm”
The skirmishes follow farmer protests across Europe, from Romania and Spain to Poland, in recent weeks. They have criticized what they say is cumbersome environmental legislation, as well as cheap food imports from non-EU countries, including chicken from Ukraine on favorable trade terms.
In response, European politicians have released a series of pledges in an attempt to appease the industry ahead of the European elections in June.
Farmers will take to the streets of Brussels again on Monday as agriculture ministers meet to discuss further measures such as exempting farmers from some EU environmental standards.
French farmers suspended their lockdowns a few weeks ago after a series of government measures, but tensions have risen again in recent days.
The Elysée Palace tried to organize a “big debate” between Macron and food producers and retailers at the show, only to backfire over the possible presence of a radical environmental group that has clashed violently with farmers in the past.
Macron ended up holding an impromptu discussion instead.
“We need contracts that tell us: ‘if you want to become more virtuous, we will help you and pay,’” one of the farmers said.
The French government has already granted farmers concessions worth around 400 million euros. They include emergency cash and the suspension of pesticide bans, while urging Brussels to water down some green rules.
Additional reporting by Leila Abboud