France is hopeful on getting an EU extension of fallow land waiver - PM Attal

"We have formed a coalition of 22 countries on the issue of fallow lands, and we are close to achieving a new extension of the exemption," Attal told the National Assembly. Farmers must meet certain conditions to receive EU subsidies - including a requirement to devote 4% of farmland to "non-productive" areas where nature can recover.

France has gathered a coalition of 22 European Union countries that agree on extending an EU waiver on fallow land, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal told parliament on Tuesday. "We have formed a coalition of 22 countries on the issue of fallow lands, and we are close to achieving a new extension of the exemption," Attal told the National Assembly.

Farmers must meet certain conditions to receive EU subsidies - including a requirement to devote 4% of farmland to "non-productive" areas where nature can recover. That can be done by leaving land lying fallow. Two EU officials told Reuters on Monday the EU's executive Commission was looking into changing the fallow land rule, as requested by France, among other options to respond to the farmers' concerns.

The Commission had already temporarily exempted farmers from the rule in response to the Ukraine war and food security concerns.