In Strasbourg, French and German farmers block the Bridge of Europe
Several hundred French and German tractors blocked the Europe Bridge, which connects the city of Strasbourg with Germany, on Monday. Over the Rhine, representatives of the French and German agricultural unions joined in a symbolic hug to the sound of horns. “Always together”All smiles, the German farmers assured their French colleagues with an enthusiastic handshake. After dark, the bridge was still closed to traffic.
“When I started my career in 1990, the use of growth hormones in fattening meat production was prohibited in France”recalls Gérard Lorber, general secretary of the FDSEA of the Lower Rhine. “Throughout my career I have followed these rules, but in the Mercosur countries with which they want to make us compete, they continue using these hormones”complaint.
For the departmental union, the mobilization has a bitter taste, after the demonstrations at the beginning of the year. “During our national mobilization, we told ourselves that the European Union had understood that it must protect its farmers, and we realize that today, finally, agriculture is on the altar of sacrifice »regrets Yohann Lecoustey, director of the FDSEA of the Lower Rhine. “It is crazy to delegate such fundamental issues as food to third countries”He is outraged.
After an hour of back and forth on the bridge, French and German farmers gathered around a bonfire on the French side. “It seemed logical to us to fight alongside French farmers, since our objectives are the same”underlines Horst Körkel, representative of the German agricultural union BLHV, to Agence France-Presse.
“We are subject to the same regulations and we all fear for the future, so it was obvious to unite our voices, hoping that this will give more echo to our demands”duck. “We hope that the European Parliament will reflect and establish fair production rules for us in Latin America”supports Alexander Heitz, 31, representative of the German agricultural association in Baden. “As it stands, the treaty is unfair and risks endangering us as producers”is alarmed by this cattle farmer from Kehl, just opposite Strasbourg.
