Spanish and French farmers blocked roads along the border in the Pyrenees today in protest, ahead of the European elections, at what they say is unfair competition from countries outside the European Union.

Earlier this year, farmers blocked many roads for weeks in EU countriesprotesting increased production costs, taxes, red tape, excessive environmental regulations, and competition from cheap food imports.

Using dozens of tractors, Spanish and French farmers blocked both sides of the border on the AP-8 highwayin the Basque Country and AP-7 in Catalonia.

“After we have European elections, let’s see if our politicians take the sector seriously and listen to our demands,” said Spanish farmer Josep Zuscafrase, 54.

“It is important (the protest) because in France farming is hard work. She has been neglected for 20 years or more. And we feed the world, you know,” said Frenchman Sylvain Furik, 39.

At the border with Catalonia, farmers played football and cooked paella, while trucks and cars formed huge queues, waiting to cross from one country to the other. “While thousands of truck drivers remain stranded on many roads, unable to leave or even eat (…) farmers are preparing to eat paella. And where are the police?’ asked the Spanish transport association Fenadismer, which estimates that 20,000 trucks cross the border with France every day.