Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Farmers Escalate EUMercosur Protests With Tractor Blockades in Paris and Catalonia

France pledges a no vote, with an EU Council decision possible within days.

Overview

  • Tractors reached central Paris near the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe despite restrictions, though most were held at the city’s edge, according to the Interior Ministry.
  • Catalan demonstrators blocked the AP-7, N-II and A-2 and restricted access to the Port of Tarragona, with organizers saying actions will continue until the trade pact is halted.
  • President Emmanuel Macron announced France will vote against the EUMercosur agreement, reinforcing earlier government opposition voiced by the agriculture minister.
  • Reports indicate EU governments could move to adopt the deal as soon as Friday, potentially clearing the way for a signature early next week, though several member states remain opposed.
  • Farm groups cite unfair competition and laxer standards as key concerns and also protest PAC cuts and animal-health rules, with coordinated actions spreading to Greece, Germany and Belgium.