France’s 2 key farmers unions suspend protests after the government offers new measures
Associated PressAUG 2023
France: Farmers' Unions Call for End to Roadblocks
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The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
As part of the EU, France can't meet the farmers' demands on its own. However, Paris is taking the farmers' protests seriously and is doing everything it can at the EU level to defend France's and Europe's food sovereignty. Moreover, to maintain competitiveness, France hasn't shied away from putting the issue of agricultural imports from Ukraine on the agenda. The protests are working, and Paris and Brussels are doing what they can.
Establishment-critical narrative
These protests address a fundamental problem with the EU: Brussels technocrats are pursuing an alleged "green" future through policies that mainly benefit major retailers and agrochemical corporations. Meanwhile, farmers are facing increasing regulation and are struggling to make a living in the face of rising production costs and dropping revenues. The EU apparatus has detached itself from real people's lives.