"European Governments' Response to Farmers' Anger and Protests"
France's two major farmers unions have decided to lift country-wide blockades after the prime minister introduced new measures aimed at protecting their livelihoods, including tens of millions of euros in aid, tax breaks, and a promise not to ban pesticides in France that are allowed elsewhere in Europe. The unions will closely monitor the government's implementation of these promises, and thousands of French farmers have been demonstrating for weeks over low earnings, heavy regulation, and unfair competition from abroad. The government also announced a 2 billion euro package to make loans for those setting up as farmers and doubled the number of controls to sanction food industrial groups and supermarkets that don't comply with a 2018 law meant to pay a fair price to farmers.