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FARMING

Farmers’ egg blockade cracks apart

Farmers in Norway ended their blockade of egg packing plants, arguing that the fear of Norwegians undergoing their May 17 celebrations without the tradition scrambled egg had itself been enough to get their point across.

Published: 15 May 2014 23:04 CEST
Farmers' egg blockade cracks apart
Eggs on a production line. Photo: Nortura
The head of Norway's Farmers' Union Nils  Bjørke told VG that the plan had always been to stop the the blockade before May 17, a that they farmers were not calling off the blockade because of popular opposition. 
 
"The plan was to stop at noon today," he said. "We have had a lot of support from people. They want to give Norwegian food a future. Farmers who have been with the actions have received supportive text messages." 
 
According to Norway's Dagbladet on Thursday, the Farmers' Union was pushing its members to bulk buy eggs in shops and blockade the entrances to egg packing facilities in an determined effort to create a national egg crisis.
 
But Bjørke on Friday told VG that the publicity had already been enough to get farmers' point across. 

 
 

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POLITICS

France vows to block EU-South America trade deal in current form

France has vowed to prevent a trade deal between the European Union and the South American Mercosur bloc from being signed with its current terms, as the country is rocked by farmer protests.

Published: 31 January 2024 15:46 CET
France vows to block EU-South America trade deal in current form

The trade deal, which would include agricultural powers Argentina and Brazil, is among a litany of complaints by farmers in France and elsewhere in Europe who have been blocking roads to demand better conditions for their sector.

They fear it would further depress their produce prices amid increased competition from exporting nations that are not bound by strict and costly EU environmental laws.

READ ALSO Should I cancel my trip to France because of farmers’ protests?

“This Mercosur deal, as it stands, is not good for our farmers. It cannot be signed as is, it won’t be signed as is,” Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire told broadcasters CNews and Europe 1.

The European Commission acknowledged on Tuesday that the conditions to conclude the deal with Mercosur, which also includes Paraguay and Uruguay, “are not quite there yet”.

The talks, however, are continuing, the commission said.

READ ALSO 5 minutes to understand French farmer protests

President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that France opposes the deal because it “doesn’t make Mercosur farmers and companies abide by the same rules as ours”.

The EU and the South American nations have been negotiating since 2000.

The contours of a deal were agreed in 2019, but a final version still needs to be ratified.

The accord aims to cut import tariffs on – mostly European – industrial and pharmaceutical goods, and on agricultural products.

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