In Brussels, Emmanuel Macron pleads for a new European agricultural model: has the subject been resolved?

Arthur de Laborde / Photo credits: SOPHIE HUGON / HANS LUCAS / HANS LUCAS VIA AFP 06:53, February 2, 2024

Thousands of farmers made their anger heard on Thursday in the streets of Brussels, just as an extraordinary European Council was being held. Emmanuel Macron spoke with the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on the sidelines of this summit dedicated to Ukraine and pleaded for the launch of several major projects.

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Proposals on administrative simplification

For Emmanuel Macron, it is the European approach to agriculture that must be completely revised. “We are at a historic moment, we are building a new agricultural model. We must do this agricultural model with our farmers. This is exactly what we have just launched here at the European level,” he declared .  

Tackling unfair competition

Brussels has committed to making proposals on administrative simplification before the end of the month. The Head of State also wants to bring distributors' purchasing centers into line at European level and tackle unfair competition between Member States, which in his eyes penalizes French products. “When we have a European rule, it must be controlled in the same way in all countries. This is why we are asking for the establishment of a European health and agricultural control force,” he said. he continued.

Strengthen controls on “mirror” clauses

“This proposal risks offending certain counterparts of Emmanuel Macron,” warns a diplomat, because it implies that some are lax in the application of European standards. The Head of State also calls for strengthening controls on the "mirror" clauses applying to products imported into the European market. He finally assumes a standoff in particular with Germany by opposing Mercosur, the free trade treaty with Latin America.