French agricultural unions have recently been protesting and blocking highways over a series of demands, including the implementation of changes to the European Union's (EU) trade policy, a simplification of bureaucracy and environmental rules, or the maintenance of tax exemptions for agricultural diesel.
Multiple trucks loaded with fruits and vegetables have been caught in the middle of these protests, some simply stopped and unable to circulate, while others have been subject to attacks from the protesters, who have dumped and destroyed the goods they were carrying.
"We have had to deal with blockades since the situation started. On Thursday, the blockades lasted a very long time, and several trucks were also attacked," says Pedro Morales García, managing director of the transport company JCARRION.
"Between yesterday and today, we have already had 15 trucks attacked, with many also blocked in different areas, which is already a very serious issue, considering they are carrying perishable products," he says.
According to Pedro Morales, "when the trucks are attacked, they take the driver away, dump the goods and burn them. The police do not intervene because they only do so in case of physical harm. That's when there is police, because in other cases, the lootings are carried out without police presence."
"Fortunately, so far, none of our drivers have suffered any physical harm. They have only been subject to intimidations to get them to step down from the truck, open the semi trailer doors and step aside," says the executive.
According to José María Quijano, secretary general of the Spanish Confederation of Goods Transport (CETM), "around 20,000 trucks cross the border between France and Spain every day at this time of year, with an average cost of 600 euros per day per truck in international transports."
It should also be noted that January is one of the months with the highest volumes of fruit and vegetable exports, with France as the second most important destination for Spain's shipments, as well as a transit point to other markets. According to FEPEX, the export of fresh fruits and vegetables in January 2023 amounted to 1.24 million tons worth 1.636 billion euros.
FEPEX understands the discontent of French producers and agrees with many of their reasons to protest, such as the lack of coherence between agricultural policy and trade policy, which is pushing EU producers to situations of competitive disadvantage against third countries. There is also an urgent need for reflection regarding the continent's food sovereignty; however, any type of protest that causes damage to Spanish productions is rejected.
"In the end, shippers are the most affected, as we are the ones transporting the goods and dealing with these situations more directly. We ask for the right to free movement of goods between Member States to be respected and for the French Government to act and not just witness it all passively," says José María Quijano.
For his part, the Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, said that "I find it absolutely unacceptable. Several trucks have been attacked and I find this particularly serious. We respect the right to demonstrate and the right to freely express one's opinion, but always in a respectful and peaceful manner, not with violent means or coercion."
JCARRION
Science and Technology Park of Almeria (PITA)
Avenue of Innovation, 1, 4th floor
04131 Almeria. Spain
T. +34 950 21 20 20
[email protected]
www.jcarrion.es
CETM
López de Hoyos, 322
28043 Madrid. Spain
www.cetm.es
FEPEX
C/ Miguel Ángel 13 – 4ª
28010. Madrid. Spain
T: +34 913191050
www.fepex.es