Farmers lift the blockade at the port of Tarragona but maintain the other disruptions

BarcelonaThe blockade that had kept access to the port of Tarragona closed since last Thursday has been lifted. For now, the farmers have opened one lane in and one lane out and will leave in a column once they have cleaned up. As explained in The morning of Catalunya Ràdio According to Eduard Escolà, spokesperson for Revolta Pagesa, the decision to lift the barricades was made after a meeting with the President of Catalonia, Salvador Illa. The protesters are confident that the Catalan government's role will help minimize the impact of the agreement between the European Union (EU) and Mercosur (the trade bloc formed by Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay). However, the farmers blocking the AP-7 highway in Pontós, the C-16 between Casserres and Berga, and the C-38 in Coll d'Ares, which are restricting traffic to trucks only, decided in several assemblies on Sunday night to maintain the blockades for at least one more night. This decision by farmers and ranchers came just hours after the Spanish government asked them to lift the blockades in exchange for forming a "common front" with the demands of all organizations in the sector and jointly presenting them to the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture and the European Commission.

Councilor Òscar Ordeig, speaking from Bàscara, had explained the need to form this "common front" to define which measures they will jointly defend—such as mirror clauses, border controls, and also a compensation fund for farmers affected by the trade agreement, among others—to the (by) a.

"Disappointed" with the Spanish government

The spokesperson for Revolta Pagesa, Jordi Ginebreda, who appeared after the regional minister, stated that they are "disappointed with the Spanish government," to whom they were directing their demands because it is the administration that should represent them before Europe. "A very strong criticism of the Spanish government because it has refused to listen to us. The Minister of Agriculture has come forward and listened to us," he added. Catalan farmers continued blocking traffic throughout Sunday on five major roads. These included the AP-7 between Borrassà and Vilademuls, the C-16 between Casserres and Berga, and the A-27 at the entrance to the port of Tarragona. They also blocked the C-38 at the Ares pass and the N-II between Bàscara and Pontós.

Ordeig thanked the protesters for their exemplary conduct, as well as the understanding shown by citizens and transport workers, and said there had been no significant incidents. "We defend and will defend what we are as a country: agricultural, livestock-raising, and food-producing. We will try to ensure that no farmer has to give up; we will put our necks, our money, our pressure, and whatever else is necessary to move forward," Ordeig asserted, adding that he shared the concern, unease, and some doubts surrounding the approval of the approval of the approval of the approval of the approval.

Call to consume Catalan products

He also pledged to promote the labeling of Catalan products and appealed to Catalan consumers: "You need to consume local products and know what you're consuming. Many of our problems stem from a lack of collaboration; we will increase policies supporting local products. They need to be identified and recognized." He also stated that they will facilitate a meeting with all Catalan MEPs and the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa. Ordeig noted that agricultural elections will be held on February 27th and that the Catalan Agricultural Council, a forum open to all agricultural organizations, will be created afterward. Furthermore, he committed to addressing the major challenges facing the food sector in the 2026 budget. "We need more investment, greater competitiveness, policies to foster generational change, and more funding," he said.

This Sunday at midday, about thirty tractors and vehicles slowly made their way through the streets of Tarragona to demonstrate their rejection of the EU-Mercosur agreement. "There's a serious lack of education; the agreement was being quietly passed over in our society until the farmers finally rose up," denounced Ramon Rojo, secretary of the Catalan Farmers' Guild, according to ACN.