Peasant protests continue in the French Basque Country and throughout France over nodule dermatitis and against the Mercosur treaty

Farmers have continued their protests this Wednesday in theFrench state against the systematic sacrifice of herds caused by contagious nodular dermatosis and have closed more highwaysin the south and south-west, mobilising on the eve of the demonstration in Brussels against the trade treaty between the European Union and Mercosur.

Dozens of farmers have supported the protests and cut off several highways in the French state, including the A-63, on the border with Hego Euskal Herria.

The Agrarian Coordination (the second largest agricultural union, close to the extreme right) and the Agrarian Confederation  (the one with a left-wing tendency) have responded strongly to the protocol on the sacrifice of herds and have increased their anger at the compensation received by Mercosur, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the carbon tax.

That is why, despite the fact that the French Government has put in place an urgent plan to vaccinate 750,000 animals in the surveillance area, which has been extended from eight to ten departments, they have expressed their intention to maintain and even extend the protest, on the eve of the European summit in Brussels starting tomorrow, Thursday.

On the Treaty between the European Union and Mercosur, French President Emmanuel Macron has assured us thatFrance will oppose the agreement 'very firmly' if the European institutions try to 'impose' it, for which the Heads of State and Government should endorse with a qualified majority the signing of the trade treaty scheduled for Saturday in Brazil.

Macron has called for the heading to be postponed and believes that the treaty is not yet 'clear' on the three conditions required by France: 'strong and operational' safeguards; similar measures to ensure fair competition by applying the same rules to imported products and Europeans; and controls on imports.

In addition to France, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has stated that it is also "premature" for her country to sign a trade agreement.

French Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard on Wednesday called for "calm , "but farmers have replied that they will continue traffic cuts and protests" if necessary. "

Since the first appearance of nodular dermatosis of cows in Savoy (east of France) last June, the French Government has tried to stop the spread of the virus by systematically killing animals, as soon as a case has been detected, vaccinating in the affected area and reducing livestock circulation.

The government decided last night to speed up livestock vaccination and extend the vaccination area from eight to ten departments covering the entire northern region of the Pyrenees, mobilizing public, private, retired and military veterinarians, as well as a $10 million aid fund to compensate for the losses of livestock farmers affected by the killings.