In the run-up to the European elections, French and Spanish farmers are blocking the border at Biriatou (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) at the A63 toll plaza on Monday 3 June

For 24 hours, the farmers intend to disrupt motorway traffic between the two countries, and are threatening the government and the European institutions with more of the same if their demands are not met.

The return of agricultural mobilisation? On Monday 3 May 2024, French and Spanish farmers are planning to block border crossings along the Pyrenees in the run-up to the European elections, in order to have an impact on the vote and to demand, in particular, cheaper energy.

Eight border crossings between Spain and France will be blocked, from the Basque country in the west to Catalonia in the east, from 10 a.m. for varying periods of time, but generally limited to 24 hours.

In the Pyrénées-Orientales, the A9 motorway will be closed on the French side towards Spain from 7am, and access to the secondary road network will be closed to HGVs from 6.30am, according to the prefecture. The Prefecture strongly recommends postponing all travel to Spain and the border area.

In the Pyrénées-Atlantiques region, the A63 will be heavily affected by a blockade at the Biriatou toll plaza, following a snail operation that began on the A64 at Briscous.

A cattle and duck farmer from Bidache, interviewed by AFP, described the operation as ‘peaceful’ and aimed to ‘put pressure on our future MEPs’ ahead of Sunday’s European elections

In Spain, the mobilisation is being led by local platforms, most of them recently created and organised via Telegram loops, which makes it difficult to predict the scale of the movement. One of these platforms, the Catalan collective Revolta Pagesa (‘Peasant Revolt’), claims to be fighting ‘in defence of the land’ and ‘for food sovereignty’.