update on the blockages announced along the Spanish border on Monday

There will be seven crossing points blocked by French and Spanish farmers.

French and Spanish farmers plan to block seven crossing points along the Franco-Spanish border, from the Basque Country to the Pyrénées-Orientales, this Monday. The mobilization is not supported by the agricultural unions but led by Jérôme Bayle, media farmer at the head of the revolt this winter, who created the “Ultras de l’A64”. These farmers want to influence the European vote and are demanding in particular common regulations throughout the EU on the issue of pesticides but also on energy prices, including non-road diesel.

In the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, the prefecture invites motorists not to go through the Biriatou toll (A36) or through the Somport and Pourtalet passes, targeted by the blockages. Several exits from the A63 motorway, a little before the Spanish border, will be closed from 9 a.m. in the France-Spain direction. Heavy goods vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tonnes are invited to postpone their travel.

Further east, farmers also plan to block the road to Bossòst, in Spain, a few kilometers from Bagnères-de-Luchon (Haute-Garonne), reports France Bleu Occitanie.

In Ariège, the passage to Spain at Bourg-Madame is also targeted by farmers. “Traffic conditions on both sides of the border will be subject to restrictions from 6 a.m. and for an indefinite period”, specifies the prefect. Access to Spain via the Puymorens tunnel in the direction of Bourg-Madame and Puigcerdà will be impossible for all vehicles. Road users “are invited to postpone their trip to Spain”. In order to avoid saturation of the road network, the circulation of heavy goods vehicles over 19 tonnes will be prohibited in Ariège on the RN 20, as well as on the departmental network coming from Bram and Carcassonne (RD 12-117-119- 625). Access to Andorra remains open, but it will not be possible to reach Spain from the Principality.

In the Pyrénées-Orientales, farmers intend to block the Col d’Ares and the Passage du Perthus, on the A9 motorway. The A9, as well as access to Spain at Puigcerda and the Col d’Ares are therefore closed to cars from 7 a.m. The secondary road network (in particular the RD 900, 914 and 66) is prohibited for heavy goods vehicles from 6:30 a.m. Monday, warns the prefecture, which also announces that “heavy goods vehicles which enter the A9 despite the recommendations will be stored on the motorway, without the possibility of leaving it, from Le Boulou in the North South direction for a minimum period of 24 hours”.