Paris and Lyon police advised car drivers to stay off the affected roads. She said that EU trading partners “must comply with EU environmental standards” if they want to import farm products. The demonstrations in France follow similar protests in Germany on Tuesday, when some 10,000 farmers drove 5,000 tractors into Berlin to protest the German government’s agricultural policies. Damien Greffin, president of the farmers’ union for the Paris region, placed the blame for farmers’ woes squarely on Macron, whom he called the “instrument of these divisions” in an interview with BFM TV. What next? It was among several recent farmer protests around Europe driven by growing concerns about maintaining European agricultural traditions and standards. Farmers are pushed by police officers as they protest on the Champs Elysees avenue, in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019. Farmers have specifically criticized a law passed last year that intended to bolster French agriculture. By mid-morning, blue and green tractors bearing signs reading “Respond, Macron!” had advanced toward the southwestern edge of the city, taking up two lanes of the highway as police escorted them on motorcycles. The sheep had been stolen during the night from a truck. Guillaume defended last year’s agriculture law, saying that a two-year experimentation phase is still under way and it will take time for farmers to see its benefits. They say they haven’t seen the increased revenues the government promised. The tractors will remain parked on the highway circling the city until French President Emmanuel Macron agrees to meet with protesters, regional farmers’ union spokesperson Elisa Despiney told The Associated Press. Protesters on foot inside the city, meanwhile, blocked off the Champs-Elysees and scattered hay across the famous Paris avenue. PARIS (AP) — Rumbling two by two down the ring road around Paris, disgruntled French farmers drove their tractors to…. The new EU Commission president on Wednesday promised that farming would continue to be at the heart of the bloc. They then stalled on the Paris ring road, where some protesters pitched tents and lit fires. It was among several recent farmer protests around Europe driven by growing concerns about maintaining European agricultural traditions and standards. However, Agriculture Minister Didier Guillaume agreed to meet with a group of farmers Wednesday evening. They say they haven’t seen the increased revenues the government promised. They then stalled on the Paris ring road, where some protesters pitched tents and lit fires. The main farmers’ union has organized actions throughout the country, including a similar tractor protest in Lyon, where about 600 farmers with some 120 tractors blockaded three entrances to the city. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. He called on Macron to rally French citizens to support agricultural workers. He called on Macron to rally French citizens to support agricultural workers. Copyright © 2020 by WTOP. French farmers are driving tractors into Paris and Lyon to protest stagnant revenues and unfair competition. She said that EU trading partners “must comply with EU environmental standards” if they want to import farm products. The French presidency said no meeting between Macron and a delegation of farmers was planned at this stage. Farmers have specifically criticized a law passed last year that intended to bolster French agriculture. PARIS (AP) — Rumbling two by two down the ring road around Paris, disgruntled French farmers drove their tractors to the capital Wednesday to protest stagnant revenues and what they say is … Ursula von der Leyen told the EU parliament in Strasbourg, France, that agriculture, which long absorbed half the EU budget before slowly tapering off, “will remain a valued part of our culture and our future.”. Trump contracts COVID-19 after downplaying risk for months. Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you. Farmer drive their tractors on the Paris ring road in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019. Farmers’ grievances include free trade agreements they say put them at a disadvantage, a government reform that failed to increase their revenues, and regulations they say hinder the sector’s performance. He added that “enough is enough” of “permanent denigration” and the gulf between city residents and farmers. PARIS – Rumbling two by two down the ring road around Paris, disgruntled French farmers drove their tractors to the capital Wednesday to protest stagnant revenues and what they say is unfair global competition. French farmers are driving tractors into Paris and Lyon to protest … The demonstrations in France follow similar protests in Germany on Tuesday, when some 10,000 farmers drove 5,000 tractors into Berlin to protest the German government’s agricultural policies. He added that “enough is enough” of “permanent denigration” and the gulf between city residents and farmers. The protest snarled traffic in the Paris area from daybreak to nightfall, as farmers from across the country attempted to use 1,000 tractors to block off access to Paris. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? PARIS -- Rumbling two by two down the ring road around Paris, disgruntled French farmers drove their tractors to the capital Wednesday to protest stagnant revenues and what they say is unfair global competition. The tractors will remain parked on the highway circling the city until French President Emmanuel Macron agrees to meet with protesters, regional farmers’ union spokesperson Elisa Despiney told The Associated Press. “We are the first to be careful with our future, to think about our health, the health of our children, about animal welfare.”, The agriculture minister told Europe 1 radio Wednesday that he supports “their anger and their protest.”. “We are the first to be careful with our future, to think about our health, the health of our children, about animal welfare.”, The agriculture minister told Europe 1 radio Wednesday that he supports “their anger and their protest.”. Guillaume defended last year’s agriculture law, saying that a two-year experimentation phase is still under way and it will take time for farmers to see its benefits. Police surrounded a group of farmers beneath the Arc de Triomphe, but the actions were peaceful. “We’d just like to work without people constantly pointing their finger at us about the plant protection products we use, about animal welfare,” said Antoine Benoist, a 44-year-old farmer from the Essonne region. Farmers in the Netherlands clogged highways last month to decry what they said was unfair blame for nitrogen pollution in the country. The protest snarled traffic in the Paris area from daybreak to nightfall, as farmers from across the country attempted to use 1,000 tractors to block off access to Paris. Police surrounded a group of farmers beneath the Arc de Triomphe, but the actions were peaceful. Farmers in the Netherlands clogged highways last month to decry what they said was unfair blame for nitrogen pollution in the country. He added that “enough is enough” of “permanent denigration” and the gulf between city residents and farmers. They have also condemned “agri-bashing,” or perceived public hostility toward farmers, particularly from those who criticize their use of pesticides and treatment of animals. All rights reserved. The demonstrations in France follow similar protests in Germany on Tuesday, when some 10,000 farmers drove 5,000 tractors into Berlin to protest the German government’s agricultural policies. She said that EU trading partners “must comply with EU environmental standards” if they want to import farm products. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. They have also condemned “agri-bashing,” or perceived public hostility toward farmers, particularly from those who criticize their use of pesticides and treatment of animals. They have also condemned “agri-bashing,” or perceived public hostility toward farmers, particularly from those who criticize their use of pesticides and treatment of animals. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus). Little mention is made of the fact that the protesting farmers were also sprayed, and basically no mention of why the farmers took this risk in the first place. Farmers are pushed by police officers as they protest on the Champs Elysees avenue, in Paris, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019. Farmers’ grievances include free trade agreements they say put them at a disadvantage, a government reform that failed to increase their revenues, and regulations they say hinder the sector’s performance. French farmers block roads in protest at huge drop in milk and pork prices following Russian trade sanctions. Raf Casert in Brussels and Alex Turnbull and Oleg Cetinic in Paris contributed to this story.