French Farmers Lift Andorra Border Blockades After Lumpy Skin Disease Protests

French farmers have lifted their roadblocks at Tarascon in Ariège and Ur in Cerdanya, restoring normal access to Andorra along the RN20 and alternative mountain routes like the RD20 (Ruta de les Corniches) and RD123.

Andorra's Mobility Department confirmed Monday afternoon that French authorities cleared the Tarascon blockade at the Sabart roundabout, a key Toulouse-Andorra link. Access to Pas de la Casa is now normal, though vehicles over 19 tonnes face weather-related restrictions on the French side. The Ur blockade ended Saturday afternoon, reopening the RD20 and RD123, the latter limited to vehicles under 2.20 metres wide. Officials urge caution on these winding routes and real-time checks via the border traffic profile. Snow and debris from protests delayed full normalization overnight, but traffic has since improved.

Earlier reports indicated the Tarascon blockade would persist until Tuesday, but agricultural unions including the Ariège Farmers' Confederation, Coordination Rurale 09, and Ariège Highland Herders lifted it Monday night. In a joint statement, they described the move as no surrender but a pause to build strength, vowing to continue fighting total herd culls amid a lumpy skin disease outbreak. They criticized government responses as politically driven, dismissed an €11 million aid fund as inadequate, and demanded alternative protocols, expanded vaccination zones, and faster jabs in Ariège. No Christmas truce is planned, with negotiations resuming by January 5. Cerdanya spokesperson Christian Tallant confirmed the withdrawals but warned of intensified actions from that date if demands go unmet. Protests continue elsewhere in southern France.

The blockades isolated Pas de la Casa over the weekend, emptying streets and slashing revenues. Tobacconists reported takings as low as €200 versus €2,000 normally, restaurants saw over 50% cancellations, and clothing shops lost up to 70% of customers. Supermarkets fared better with local trade. Some restaurateurs downplayed the impact, citing steady spending from long-stay Portuguese and Brazilian groups, with billing about 15% below par—far from pandemic levels. Alternatives added just 5-10 minutes to trips, though trucks and buses could not pass.

Public transport is rebounding: Andbus plans to resume Andorra la Vella-Toulouse and Blagnac airport services Tuesday after logistical delays, while Hife's Ax-les-Thermes line ran uninterrupted.

Weather issues linger separately, with ice warnings on CG-2 at Port d’Envalira, CG-3 near Arcalís, and CG-4 at Coll de la Botella, plus 19-tonne bans and winter gear requirements on RN-22, RN-20, and RN-320. Further farmer protests remain possible. The actions also oppose the EU-Mercosur deal, seen as introducing unfair South American meat, sugar, rice, honey, and soy imports. President Macron has held off signing, citing insufficient producer safeguards.