N. Peter Kramer’s Weekly Column
Following promises made to protesting farmers, the French government has presented a new draft of the agricultural policy law. The first version was presented in December 2023, before protests forced the government to withdraw and change the draft. The new proposed law keeps promises made by the French government. For instance the removal of tax on diesel used in agriculture and replacing criminal sanctions with administrative penalties. The legal tool will be strengthened by another article aimed at reducing penalties for farmer who cause environmental damage, which is now considered to be often disproportionate, slanderous and humiliating.
The aim is to ensure food and biomass production stimulating the general renewal in farming and its adaption to climate change. The new agriculture law is focusing on food sovereignty and putting it on equal footing with environmental sustainability. It enshrines agricultural sovereignty as a priority for the future, and a funding element of political action. In the law, agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture are defined areas of ‘major general interest’. According to the French Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau, this will enable ‘greater consideration to be given to agriculture and food sovereignty’ in public policies, to make them a priority.
It is clear that the new law means a redress of the balance of power, particularly in relation to the environment. An almost revolutionary development nowadays. Is France setting the tone for modern agricultural laws? Will other EU memberstates follow?
