Spanish PM pledges to strengthen farmers’ power in food chain

Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, pledged on Wednesday 7 February to strengthen the national Food Chain Law, and to streamline the processing of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) aids, to avoid what the far-right Vox party has described as “the rebellion of the tractors”.

The latest reform of the Food Chain Law in Spain, which aims to establish a fairer relationship between farmers, the agri-food industry and distribution companies, was passed by Parliament in December 2021.

Sánchez’s pledge follows similar initiatives from France and Germany.

Adressing parliament, Sánchez responded to questions from the far-right Vox party, the third largest force, and the left-wing platform of the Republican Group, which has nine MPs out of a total of 350 in the Chamber.

Both political groups asked what urgent measures the government intends to take to address the claims of Spanish farmers, who in recent days have joined forces with their European colleagues against the strict environmental rules of Brussels and the excessive red tape of the CAP, among other issues.

In his response to Vox, Sánchez said the government “is (supporting) the (agricultural sector) in words and deeds” thanks to the policies “deployed over the last five years”.

He also called for improving ‘reciprocity’ in the conditions of agricultural imports through ‘mirror clauses’ meaning that 3rd country producers must follow the same strict requirements as EU food producers, to have access to the EU market 

Vox’s “climate denialism and anti-Europeanism”

The prime minister highlighted the €4 billion earmarked by the progressive executive for the agricultural sector from 2022 to deal with adversities such as drought, which is currently hitting Catalonia and Andalusia hard, the rise in energy prices due to the war in Ukraine, and mitigating the increase in agricultural insurance. He also noted the € 6.8 billion of the new CAP, of which most is direct aid for Spanish farmers.

Speaking directly to the leader of Vox, Santiago Abascal, Sánchez said the head of the “ultra” party “perhaps has not heard about what we have been approving in parliament to defend the primary sector and, always, against his party (Vox)”.

Faced with the political offensive of Partido Popular (PP/EPP), the main opposition force, and Vox, who present themselves to their voters as the true “defenders” of farmers, Sánchez criticised the far-right party for proposing a “lethal formula” for the agricultural sector, by making an “impossible mix” between “climate denialism and anti-Europeanism”.

Sánchez recalled that the EPP opposed the Nature Restoration Law, and that Vox, like some of its European sister parties, has in some cases denied the effects of climate change.

Vox warns of “rebellion of the tractors”

Abascal harshly attacked Sánchez, warning that Spain has seen the arrival of the “rebellion of the tractors that will stop the betrayal (of Sánchez) of the countryside”.

The Vox leader said that Spanish farmers want to “stop being tripped up” by “unfair” competition (from third countries, potentially including Mercosur members), “radical” environmentalism (from the Green Pact or the Nature Restoration Law), “unbearable red tape” (from the CAP) or the “criminalisation of their way of life”.

In addition, Abascal attacked the European People’s Party (EPP), the Socialists (S&D) and the Greens in the European Parliament for having formed – he said – “a Brussels coalition” to vote against the interests of farmers.

The Vox leader said that the Agenda 2030 is a “death threat to the Spanish countryside and is a plan for mass redundancies”.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, thousands of Spanish farmers blocked roads and main accesses to cities across the country as part of a new wave of protests against the European Union’s agricultural policy, Euractiv’s partner EFE reported.

They demand more flexibility of the CAP, compliance with the food chain law – which, among other things, eliminates the so-called ‘sale at a loss’ (venta a pérdidas)-, the extension of the temporary tax reduction on agricultural diesel and aid for sectors affected by the ongoing the drought in the country.

The protests were organised through social networks and WhatsApp and are not connected to those called by the country’s main agricultural organisations for the coming days.

A large demonstration before the Ministry of Agriculture, Fishing and Food in Madrid is planned for Feb 21.

[Edited by Angelo Di Mambro/Alice Taylor]

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