Spanish and French farmers have blocked roads along the Pyrenees mountain border, protesting what they consider unfair competition from outside the European Union. The blockade comes just days before the European Parliament elections, scheduled for June 6-9.
Farmers used dozens of tractors to obstruct key highways, including the AP-8 in the Basque Country and the AP-7 in Catalonia. This move follows earlier protests across the EU, where farmers voiced concerns over rising costs, taxes, regulatory burdens, and cheap food imports undermining their livelihoods.
Spanish farmer Josep Juscafrase, 54, expressed hopes that the protests would prompt politicians to take their demands seriously during the EU elections. Similarly, French farmer Sylvain Fourriques, 39, highlighted the prolonged neglect of agriculture in France and the sector’s critical role in food production.
The ongoing protests have led to extended subsidy allowances and modifications to the EU’s Green Deal, including the removal of a farming emissions reduction goal from the 2040 climate roadmap. At the Catalan border, farmers organized activities like soccer games and paella cooking while maintaining the blockade, which caused significant traffic delays.
The Spanish transport association Fenadismer, noting that 20,000 trucks cross the French border daily, criticized the disruptions and the apparent lack of police intervention. The European Parliament election officially begins on Thursday, with most countries voting on Sunday.
