Farmers Across France Protest Mercosur Deal by Removing the EU Flag

Across rural France, a symbolic protest is gaining momentum. Farmers, outraged by the European Union’s impending trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc, are calling on their mayors to remove the EU flag from town halls — a gesture meant to signal deep frustration with Brussels and its trade policies.

A Symbolic Gesture That’s Spreading

It all began with local initiatives, but the movement is now spreading nationwide. The Coordination Rurale, one of France’s main agricultural unions, has urged mayors to show solidarity with farmers by taking down the European flag. In some areas, it has already happened:

Simplé (Mayenne) – The mayor, a retired farmer, removed the EU flag, saying he fears for the future of his children and grandchildren.
Meuse – Three villages, including Cousances-les-Forges and Savonnière-en-Perthois, replaced their EU flags with the Coordination Rurale banner.
Vaucluse – Vintners in Violès removed the EU flag with support from their mayor.
Haut-Rhin – The Jeunes Agriculteurs group contacted nearly every mayor in the department, asking them to lower or drape their town’s EU flags in protest.

This growing show of defiance reflects an escalating sense of betrayal felt by French farmers who believe European trade deals undermine local agriculture.

Nationwide Mobilisation Against the Mercosur Deal

The flag protest is part of a wider mobilisation across France. On Monday, January 12, farmers staged blockades at key ports, seen as strongholds of global trade:

La Rochelle: Around 60 protesters blocked access to fuel depots.
Le Havre: More than 150 farmers set up checkpoints, controlling truck traffic entering and leaving the port.
Paris: Hundreds of tractors are expected this week as farmers rally for “concrete and immediate action” to protect French food sovereignty.

A major demonstration is also planned for January 20 in Strasbourg, right in front of the European Parliament, where officials will soon debate the treaty’s final approval.

A Controversial Deal Despite French Opposition

The EU-Mercosur trade deal, approved by the European Union on January 9, unites Europe with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay in a commercial zone representing over 700 million consumers.

While the EU Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen, is expected to sign the agreement this Saturday in Paraguay, France was one of the few to vote against it, citing environmental and economic concerns.

French farmers fear the deal will flood the European market with cheaper, less regulated agricultural imports, especially beef and soy, threatening local livelihoods and environmental standards.

The Government’s Response

France’s new Minister of Agriculture, Annie Genevard, tried to calm tensions by announcing a €300 million support plan. Yet, most unions remain unsatisfied. Many see this as a temporary measure that doesn’t address the deeper issues of trade fairness and farm viability.

“The anger of the farmers is real, and their grievances are legitimate,” Genevard acknowledged on BFM-TV.
But her words have done little to ease discontent in the countryside.

What Happens Next?

With European ratification expected by February or March, time is running short to sway lawmakers. Farmers across France — from Brittany to the Alps — vow to maintain pressure on national and European leaders.

For many, the EU flag has become more than just a symbol of unity; it now represents the imbalance between European economic ambition and the everyday struggles of those feeding the continent.