Gabriel Attal promised a “future” for the French agricultural sector and promised solutions to combat bans and fraud.

France’s leading agricultural unions have called for nationwide blockades on wages, taxes and regulation to be lifted after receiving pledges of government support.

For two weeks, French farmers blocked roads across the country protests which spread across Europe last week.

Farmers protested against low wages, regulation and what they called unfair competition from abroad.

Arnaud Rousseau, head of the largest rural union FNSEA, and Young Farmers (JA) president Arnaud Gaillot held a press conference on Thursday to announce the suspension of the action.

The announcement followed promises from Prime Minister Gabriel Attal of cash, relaxed regulations and protection from unfair competition, the government’s second wave of concessions in a week.

Gabriel Attal’s speech came as convoys of hundreds of farmers caused chaos outside the European Union headquarters, demanding that leaders at an EU summit seek relief from rising prices and red tape.

“The question is currently being asked across Europe: Does our agriculture have a future? The answer, of course, is yes,” Attal said.

Attal announced that France is now banning imports from countries outside the EU of fruit and vegetables treated with thiacloprid – an insecticide currently banned in the EU.

He also said that France would not ban pesticides that were permitted elsewhere in the EU. The statement was in response to a call from French farmers who denounced stricter regulations on pesticide products in France than in neighboring countries.

“Noticeable progress”

France will propose the creation of a “European control force” to combat fraud, particularly with regard to health regulations, and to combat the import of food that meets European and French health standards.

Attal also reiterated that France remains opposed to the EU signing a free trade agreement with the Mercosur trade group.

“There is no question that France accepts this treaty,” he said.

The government’s goals with the newly announced measures are to “restore value to food” and “increase farmers’ income, protect them from unfair competition and simplify their daily lives,” he said.

Attal also announced 150 million euros ($162 million) in aid for livestock farmers and a cut in farm taxes that will be passed on from older to younger generations.

Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau announced after Attal’s speech a two billion euro ($2.16 billion) package to finance loans for those setting up as farmers.

The French government has said it will fine food industry groups and supermarkets if they fail to comply with a 2018 law intended to pay farmers a fair price. Failure to comply can result in a fine of up to 2 percent of sales.