France: Farmers plan nationwide protests from Nov. 15 /update 1

Unionized farmers affiliated with the FNSEA union and other organizations plan to stage protests across France from Nov. 15. The purpose of the actions is to denounce the ongoing EU-Mercosur agreement talks; the next round of talks, organized for Nov. 18-19, will be marked by significant protest actions nationwide.

The FNSEA leadership has called for a major national mobilization of agricultural movements nationwide, which will likely significantly impact travel and prompt increased security across France. On Nov. 19, the agricultural union CR47, which recently joined the call for protests, plans to hold a nationwide freight blockade disrupting train travel, transport, and logistics. Participants could stage blockades near logistical hubs, supermarket chains, and warehouses. Demonstrations and minor actions will likely take place Nov. 15-17 and after Nov. 19. These will likely include roadblocks on highways and convoys of slow-moving vehicles through urban centers. Groups of protesting farmers will likely focus their protest activity in major urban centers, which could obstruct traffic to France's major airports.

Authorities will likely deploy significant security measures to monitor the gatherings. The freight blockade on Nov. 19 will likely cause shortages on shelves and major logistics disruptions in France in the days and weeks following the action. Protest activities and related security measures will likely cause severe delays on affected motorways and consequent congestion on nearby diversions. The actions will likely proceed peacefully; however, limited confrontations between law enforcement officers and protesters or between disgruntled drivers and demonstrators are possible.