French farmers and fisherman protest again over record fuel prices, while
Dutch truckers push for fuel taxes to be cut and in Spain fishermen
strike.

(EU) DIJON, FRANCE (MAY 29, 2008) I-TV - 

 Soaring fuel prices triggered further protests across Europe
on Thursday (May 29). French farmers blocked three new fuel depots,
taking over from fishermen who lifted blockades at France's largest refinery
and at two fuel depots in the south.
    Farmers, who say they too are struggling with soaring fuel costs, are
now mimicking the fishermen's protests.
    Hundreds of farmers expanded a blockade of fuel depots, blocking one
near the eastern city of Dijon and two in the regions near the Alps in
addition to one near the southern city of Toulouse.
    They demand that the government exempt them from a special petrol tax
known as TIPP. 
    A young farmer said that the cost of running a farm was increasing year
after year while their selling prices remained unchanged.
    "It's a strategic place, that's why we've decided to block this
depot. It really gives an idea of what's happening among farmers, that is to
say the increase of our charges. Everything stemming from fuel products, so
the oil is a priority, fertilizers are part of our current cost for running
the farm, and these charges are increasing and increasing while the production
prices that is to say the prices of  goods as they leave the farm are not
rising at all, remaining stable. The prices are exactly the same as last year.
We can say that in the past with two kilos of milk we were able to buy one
litre of fuel, today we need three kilos of milk and it goes on always like
this and today our incomes are at risk, so, actions must be undertaken,"
said Julien Bigard.
    In Bordeaux Merignac, fishermen gathered for an extraordinary meeting
and decided to continue their protest, demanding fuel at 0.40 euros a litre
throughout the European Union.
    "The French fisherman vigilance committee: we've met today to
decide to continue the strike. We notice that the Barnier (Agriculture
Minister) plan contains essentially measures that are incompatible with the
survival of the French fishing sector. We considered that the only possible
solution is fuel at the pump at 0.40 euro per litre with the agreement of the
European Community for all the countries hit by the crisis," said Gerald
Mesny, a fisherman from Arcachon near Bordeaux.
    Elsewhere, scuffles broke out between striking fishermen and riot
police in at least two instances.
    Police used tear gas to break up blockades in Lorient in the western
region of Brittany, and forcibly removed fishermen from a port they were
blocking near the southern city of Marseille.
    The government pledged to grant 110 million euros (137 million U.S.
dollars) in aid this year to fishermen and is now in talks with truck drivers
to lighten their fuel costs.
    Spanish fishermen form Andalucia staged a strike on Thursday (May 29)
to demand compensation for rising fuel prices, joining the ranks of another
350 fishermen already on strike in the ports of Barcelona, Rosas and Port de
la Selva who joined the stoppage from last Monday. 
    Ports such as Garrucha, near the town of Almeria, Isla Cristina, Puerto
de Santa Maria and Lepe came to standstill as fishermen refused to work. 
    Fishermen at Garrucha fishing village staged a silent protest at the
port.
    The price of marine fuel has soared by some 240 percent in most
European harbours since 2004. 
    Spain's Fishermen's Confederation has also called a protest in Madrid
for Friday (May 30) against high fuel prices. 
    In the Netherlands, Dutch truckers called on motorists to honk their
horns to push for lower fuel taxes. 
    Organisations representing logistics companies parked a huge truck
outside parliament and handed over a petition to politicians calling on the
government to reverse a diesel tax hike that is due to take effect on July
1.
    "What we see is enormous dissatisfaction about the rising prices
of fuel," Dick van den Broek Humphreij, head of the EVO group that
represents transport companies, told Reuters outside parliament after
delivering the petition.
    Truckers also displayed illuminated road signs around the country
urging motorists to honk their horns in solidarity.
    Separately, a group has collected more than 112,000 signatures online
demanding the reversal of a tax that has been levied on fuel since a budget
crisis in 1991.
    The Netherlands has Europe's biggest gas reserves but does not benefit
in terms of cheaper gas, unlike oil producer Venezuela which offers cheap
fuel.