For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid email address
SIGN UP
I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice
Thanks for signing up to the
Breaking News email
{{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}
Outraged French farmers have blocked a motorway to Spain as part of a nationwide protest over complaints that they are not getting enough money for their produce as well as excessive bureaucracy.
Some Spanish trucks were also attacked at the border, Spain’s National Federation of Transport Associations said, with Madrid’s agriculture minister branding the incidents “absolutely unacceptable”.
Amid the tough economic climate, French farmers have been protesting to urge the government to do more to help them.
The protests are now affecting traffic trying to cross into France from Spain on the AP-7 highway that runs along the Mediterranean coast from southern Spain to the frontier. About 20,000 Spanish trucks cross into France daily.
Catalonia’s traffic service, Transit, said on X/Twitter that northbound lanes of the AP-7 were blocked at the border municipality of La Jonquera, and shared online video footage showing long lines of trucks.
RECOMMENDED
Hugh Jackman’s ex opens up about ‘frightening’ but ‘exciting’ change after divorce
British ballet dancer dies in US after eating mislabelled cookie
How to quit smoking quicklyMayo | Sponsored Sponsored
Dr. Kellyann: "Weight Loss After 60 Comes Down To This Daily Habit"Dr. Kellyann | Sponsored Sponsored
CCPA Notice
Fenadismer, Spain’s Federation of Transport Associations, released footage of what it said was a Spanish truck driver being forced to empty 20,000 litres of wine from its tank, and accused French protesters of vandalism and destroying goods.
Promoted stories
Cardiologists: Simple Trick For Overweight? Do This Before BedLIV Pure Learn More
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
"Fair demands that involve intolerable acts lose all legitimacy," it wrote on X/Twitter.
Agriculture minister Luis Planas told reporters on Thursday that attacks on trucks were “absolutely unacceptable”.
French farmers block motorway to Spain
" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/01/26/17/farmers.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/01/26/17/farmers.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/01/26/17/farmers.jpg" data-gallery-length="2" class="i-amphtml-fill-content i-amphtml-replaced-content">
French farmers block motorway to Spain
(Reuters)
“We fully respect the right to demonstrate and the right to freely express one’s opinion but always with respect and peacefully, not with violent means and coercion,” he said.
Andres Gongora, from the COAG farmers association, said Spanish farmers understood why French farmers were protesting and shared some of their demands.
“What we cannot understand is that they are focusing their protests on Spanish production when we are members of the European Union, just like them,” Gongora said. “The free movement of goods must be guaranteed.”
Protesters also blocked one of the main motorways linking Paris with the northern city of Lille and Belgium on Friday, causing lengthy traffic jams.
On a visit to the Haute-Garonne region on Friday, new French prime minister Gabriel Attal sought to assuage the anger of the farmers.
RECOMMENDED
Austrian man who raped his captive daughter over 24 years can be moved to a regular prison
Pawn Stars host Rick Harrison’s son Adam’s cause of death released
Sparse Lashes? Women 50+ are Loving this MascaraEyelash Queen | Sponsored Sponsored
Bone-On-Bone Knees? See This!Vitaletiks | Sponsored Sponsored
He told those present that his new government had decided to “put agriculture above everything else”.
Mr Attal said one of the measures he would implement would be to encourage French citizens to buy more homegrown products.
More about Spain Motorway France farmers
Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
1Comments
1/ 2Outraged farmers block motorway between France and Spain
Outraged farmers block motorway between France and Spain
French farmers block motorway to Spain
Reuters
Outraged farmers block motorway between France and Spain
Reuters
Read More Comments
Collapse Comments
？ Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Subscribe
Already subscribed? Log in