Goodbye calves, cows, pigs and brood remain… Marine, on vacation in Paris with her brother, is a little lost: where are the animals? Sheep, goats and horses are more popular this year with visitors to the Porte de Versailles, and families are putting on a brave face. The epidemic of contagious lumpy skin disease has been contained, but too late to reverse the absence of cattle: Minister Annie Genevard announced on Friday the lifting of the last restricted zone. The 2026 edition of the International Agricultural Show ends this Sunday, and there remains a bitter taste, with attendance down – estimated at a quarter – and morale at half mast. Last Sunday, a fight broke out near a nougat stand, and four people were arrested and placed under judicial supervision, but unrelated to the anger which was muted for a few days.
Rural Coordination denounced an announcement “unilateral”
“Coming means supporting”proclaimed the slogan, and, from ordinary visitors to personalities like chef Philippe Etchebest, the warmth and affection were still very present. At the Occitanie Region stand, which hosted Les Voix agricole – a collective which trains and encourages farmers from all backgrounds to express their message – enthusiasm was bursting and comforting, despite the difficulties: French agriculture is also dynamic, inventive and positive! Their communicative passion diminished somewhat at the sight of the parade of politicians, welcomed with circumspection for their stop between a pose with a lamb and a passage in the institutional stands.
Feared but expected, the little bomb exploded on Friday: the provisional implementation of the agreement with Mercosur, which is unanimously against it in France, was announced by the President of the European Commission. Without waiting for the opinion of the European Parliament therefore, since it referred the matter to the Court of Justice of the EU in January on the conformity of the agreement and will only vote after its decision. Immediate reaction from the FNSEA and Young Farmers, who went to the European Union stand to express their anger against “a denial of democracy”. Their respective presidents, Arnaud Rousseau and Pierrick Horel, criticized a decision taken at the worst time: the facilitation of the importation of South American beef, while the show is deprived of its cows adds an unfortunate symbol…
The Rural Coordination, for its part, denounced an announcement “unilateral” which marks a “new predictable betrayal of the European Commission” : the yellow caps call for “protect the borders of the European Union” and to “cover a CAP encouraging production through guaranteed prices”. Same tone at the Peasant Confederation: it castigates a “passage by force” Who “tramples agriculture and European democracy”and warns of the weakening of the beef, poultry and sugar sectors.
“France has become the doormat of Europe”was indignant, at the microphone of Europe 1, Céline Imart, LR MEP and farmer, who promises to continue to fight in Strasbourg and Brussels. While awaiting the outcome of this fight, farmers have received other appointments in the coming weeks, set by government announcements, and the unions are maintaining pressure so that the emergency is not diluted in the parliamentary kitchen. For the show, see you next year… “with the cows!” anticipates an exponent. Farmers know bad years… Despite everything, it remains an unmissable event, we have to keep it and bring joy back into it! »
