Farmers warn AP-7 blockade will stay unless government delivers 'tangible action'

Protesting farmers in Catalonia have warned the regional government that roadblocks will not be lifted until it delivers what they call "tangible action."

The demonstrations entered their fourth day on Sunday and, while farmers have gradually eased some of the disruptions, several roadblocks remain in place.

On the AP-7, Catalonia's main motorway running along the Mediterranean coast, dozens of farmers continue to protest.

The road has been blocked near Pontós, in the Alt Empordà county of north-eastern Catalonia, a key transport corridor linking the territory with France.

The protests follow the EU's approval on Friday of a trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc, which farmers say threatens their livelihoods.

"We want to leave with concrete measures that have a real impact on day-to-day life," said Jordi Ginabreda, a spokesperson for the protest movement.

Farmers say they will not accept vague commitments or promises of future meetings, insisting instead on immediate action.

"We will only leave with our heads held high because we've achieved something," Ginabreda said. "Otherwise, we'll leave because we've been kicked out."

One of the farmers' main demands is for the Catalan government to take a clear stance against the agreement.

While the Catalan administration has no direct authority over EU trade policy, protesters want it to pressure Spain's central government to oppose the deal.

That task may prove difficult. Spain's executive voted firmly in favour of the agreement, and the Catalan government is led by the Socialists, the same party in power at national level.

Another key demand is not the outright rejection of the Mercosur deal, but its approval alongside safeguards to protect farmers' livelihoods.

"Firm guarantees and exhaustive controls," the protesters demand, arguing that products currently arriving from Mercosur countries "do not meet these minimum standards" yet still end up on the market.

The future of the protests will depend on the pace of negotiations. Farmers have not ruled out further disruption at other locations in the region "in the coming hours" if talks fail to make progress.

Tarragona protest

Meanwhile, in Tarragona, dozens of tractors staged a slow‑moving protest through the city centre against the Mercosur agreement.

The demonstration drew applause and support from passers-by.

Farmers have accused the agreement of creating "unfair competition" and warned of negative effects on the local population.

"We need to do much more outreach. Almost nobody knew about the agreement until we protested," said Ramon Rojo, secretary of the Farmers' Guild.

These actions in Tarragona come alongside another protest that has completely blocked the Port of Tarragona.