Foix Tunnel Reopens After 15-Day French Farmers' Blockade

The Foix tunnel, a key route linking Andorra to France, has reopened to traffic after more than 15 days of blockade by French farmers.

Around 40 farmers began dismantling tents and camps set up at the site on Thursday, ending the protest action in the Ariège region. Sébastien Durand, president of the Rural Coordination of Ariège, told *La Dépêche* that the move does not signal the end of demonstrations. "It does not mark the end of the protests," he warned.

The blockade highlighted ongoing farmer discontent with the EU-Mercosur trade deal, recently approved despite opposition. Demonstrators argue that strict EU regulations on agriculture—covering environmental standards, pesticides, and animal welfare—put European producers at a disadvantage against Latin American imports, which face no such requirements.

The tunnel's closure had disrupted cross-border travel and trade vital to Andorra's economy, forcing drivers to use longer alternative routes through the Pyrenees. While the immediate action has lifted, Durand's comments suggest further mobilisations could follow as farmers press for policy changes. Authorities have not detailed any immediate impacts from the reopening.