Spanish farmers mobilize in an unprecedented protest
Spanish farmers, affected by the structural crisis in the countryside, are organizing a protest that promises to be historic. The mobilization, supported by various agricultural associations in Catalonia and all of Spain, will consist of cuts on the borders with France on June 3. This movement, which has been described as ‘unprecedented’, seeks to put pressure in the face of the European elections on June 9 to achieve greater food security through measures such as ‘mirror clauses’ and laws of preference for local products.
Objectives and demands of the protest
The spokesperson for Revolta Pagesa, Arnau Rubio, explained that the purpose of the protest is to pressure to obtain guarantees of food security. This includes the requirement of ‘mirror clauses’ for products imported from outside the EU, preference laws for local products, and the elimination of energy taxes that affect agricultural producers. These demands seek to equalize the conditions of production and competition with other sectors.
Participation and permissions
The protest brings together farmers and ranchers from Catalonia, all of Spain and France, as well as associations, cooperatives, unions, companies and consumers. Protesters will have permission to disrupt traffic for 24 hours, starting on June 3 at 10:00 a.m. The willingness to constructive dialogue is emphasized, but it is warned that the mobilization will not stop until the demands are achieved.
Support and adherence to the movement
More than twenty associations from Catalonia, Spain and France have joined the protest, supporting the farmers’ demands. In a meeting in Navarra, the convening entities agreed to demand ‘mirror clauses’, preference laws for local products and the elimination of taxes on the energy used by agricultural producers.
