French farmers block roads to Spanish and German import lorries
Monday, July 27, 2015 @ 9:02 PM
BORDER blockades staged by French farmers are stopping produce from Germany and Spain being transported into France in a protest over non-competitive price practices.
Agricultural workers in France closed off six roads leading to Germany through the Strasbourg area, stopping lorries going through, but clearing the way for cars.
With meat consumption having gone down, less demand from the Chinese market and in light of Russia's refusal to let in exports from the European Union, French farmers are struggling to make ends meet and, according to François Hollande, one in 10 could soon be out of business.
Other border roads have been blockaded by farmers, with the A-64 motorway in the south-west of France to stop lorries getting into the country from Spain.
Tractor drivers barricading the highway threatened to take consignments of meat and fruit being brought into France off their lorries.
Debt aid and tax waivers to the tune of some €100 million were promised to farmers by Hollande's government a week ago, but agricultural workers' unions say this will only serve as a temporary repair job, since the root of the issue is cheap produce being imported into France from elsewhere in the EU – especially those where wages are lower allowing greater profit margins.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com