Paris - Farmers demonstrate for better social conditions The Confédération paysanne - France's third largest, left-wing trade union - yesterday (17 October) called on lawmakers to improve the social situation of farmers at a demonstration outside the French parliament (the National Assembly). The protesters' demands included the right to effective replacement, the right to rest, and the recognition of occupational diseases. The union is also calling for retirement pensions to be calculated on the basis of the best 25 years, a measure currently being debated in parliament as part of the budget vote.
Athens - Greek minister reassures farmers over late CAP payments In an interview on OPEN TV, yesterday, Greek Agriculture Minister Kostas Tsiaras gave assurances that farmers facing delays in receiving CAP aid will be paid. According to him, the problem lies with OPEKEPE, the Greek paying agency for CAP funds, which has based 2023 payments on 2021 instead of 2022.
Madrid - Andalusian fishermen protest against European ban on anchovy fishing At an emergency meeting with the Andalusian government yesterday, fishermen protested against the closure of the anchovy fishery in the Gulf of Cadiz, Industrias pesqueras reported. Having reached their quota, 1,000 seamen and 5,000 indirect jobs are now at risk, the fishermen said. The Commission had proposed a 54% cut in quotas from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025. The Council called on the executive to reverse its decision. The fishermen say they are “victims of the failure of the European Commission's fisheries management and the indolence of the [Spanish] ministry”. | 