B4-0472, 0488, 0500, 0544 and 0558/97

Resolution on the free movement of goods in the European Union

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its resolutions of 15 July 1993 on the serious incidents which have occurred in the south of France ((OJ C 255, 20.9.1993, p. 158.)) and of 23 May 1996 on threats to the free movement of agricultural products in the Union ((OJ C 166, 10.6.1996, p. 198.)),

- having regard to Article 5 of the EC Treaty, which obliges Member States to adopt all appropriate measures, whether general or particular, to ensure an internal market characterized by the removal of obstacles to the free movement of goods between the Member States,

- having regard to Article 7a of the EC Treaty, which recognizes that the internal market entails an area without internal frontiers, in which the free movement of goods is ensured,

- having regard to Article 39 of the EC Treaty, which establishes that one of the objectives of the common agricultural policy is to ensure the availability of supplies,

A. whereas the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital is a basic pillar of the rule of law and of the introduction of the internal market,

B. whereas this year as in other years farmers in the south of France have been carrying out attacks on Spanish lorries transporting agricultural products originating in Spain,

C. having regard to the frequency of these attacks, which recur year after year, and the impunity enjoyed by their authors,

D. whereas other kinds of attacks have been carried out on Spanish interests in France, such as warehouses of Spanish fruit and vegetables in various French cities, which paralyse the commercial process of distributing fruit and vegetables in the European Union, to the serious detriment of Community consumers,

E. having regard to the violence used in these acts of vandalism against both the goods and the people transporting them,

F. whereas, given the repeated nature of these acts of vandalism, the fact that a judgment on the issue is expected from the Court of Justice does not exempt France from fulfilling its obligations under the EC Treaty,

1. Condemns unequivocally the recent and repeated attacks and the visible failure to take action by the French authorities, which represent a serious threat to the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital within the European Union;

2. Requests that the compensation promised by the French Government should be paid soon and should cover every kind of damage, not only that caused to vehicles and goods but also the loss of markets, and that steps should be taken to ensure that those responsible for the damage are made answerable under criminal and civil law;

3. Points out that the Commission has had to respond to events of this kind by bringing proceedings against France before the European Court of Justice;

4. Calls on the French Government to take all the steps required to ensure that such actions are not repeated;

5. Calls on the Commission to ensure that the 'quality controls' announced by the French Government do not involve infringements of the Treaty;

6. Calls on the Council and Commission to adopt tough and immediate measures to ensure the free movement of goods and fair competition between fruit and vegetable producers and to devise appropriate forms of compensation for the production sectors affected by this situation;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments of the Member States.