Hundreds of tractors have converged on major roads into Paris as part of a mass protest dubbed the 'siege of Paris' by French farmers. Demonstrations are taking place across the country, with farmers protesting falling incomes, rising bureaucracy, and competition from imports.
The French authorities have mobilised 15,000 police officers to prevent tractors from entering Paris and other major cities. Farmers aim to block food deliveries to supermarkets, with one protester telling the BBC, 'We can't do cheap farming... we need to be able to make a living from our trade.'
Similar protests are also occurring in Belgium and Germany, where tractors are blocking routes to Hamburg's port area. In the Netherlands, dairy farmer Ben Appledoorn expressed frustration with EU Green Deal targets, which he considers unrealistic and detrimental to agriculture.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal met union representatives on Monday evening, but no agreement was reported, suggesting blockades will continue. Farmer Baptiste Menon, blockading the A10 near Paris, stated his group is equipped with food and barbecue to last at least 48 hours.
