WRITTEN QUESTION P-3485/02

by Jaime Valdivielso de Cué (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 November 2002)

Subject: Road blockade in France

The anti-government protest launched by French lorry drivers includes a blockade of the most important roads in France that could well cause disruption to road transport across the European Union.

Furthermore, this behaviour constitutes a breach of one of the principles of the European Union the free movement of goods and will hit Spain particularly badly, since its products have to pass through France.

Can the Commission explain what steps it will take to ensure the free movement of goods in the European Union?

What sanctions does it envisage imposing to punish such behaviour?

What compensation is envisaged for the businesses which have suffered?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(6 January 2003)

The Commission received information that certain French trade unions representing lorry drivers intended to organise demonstrations in support of wage claims which could, as of the evening of 23 November 2002, lead to blockades on major routes.

After having checked that this information was reliable, the Commission set in motion the information and monitoring mechanism established by Council Regulation (EC) No 2679/98 of 7 December 1998 on the functioning of the internal market in relation to the free movement of goods among the Member States(1).

This Regulation introduces a rapid information mechanism when an obstacle, or the threat of an obstacle, occurs and obliges the Member States to take all necessary and proportionate measures to ensure the free movement of goods, including the introduction of procedures under national law which make it possible to recover any losses. The Regulation also contains a provision whereby the Commission can send a notification to the Member State concerned, urging it to take action.

Under Article 3.2 of Regulation (EC) No 2679/98, the Commission therefore sent a fax to the French authorities on 22 November 2002, requesting urgent information on the nature, duration, dates and locations of possible road blockades; on the measures which the French authorities intended to take to inform operators about these actions and how they would develop, as well as the measures planned to combat them, including the introduction of alternative routes; and on the procedures under national law enabling operators to recover any losses incurred.

The French authorities had two days in which to inform the EU about the disruption and the proportionate measures it had introduced. This request, and the reply from the French authorities dated 25 November 2002, were immediately transmitted to the other Member States.

On the basis of the information transmitted by the French authorities, the Commission considers that necessary and proportionate measures were taken to ensure the free movement of goods and persons (activation of an interministerial crisis management operations centre; the effective involvement of the intelligence and police services; the introduction of suitable diversions). The outcome of these measures was that by the evening of 25 November 2002 no further blockades were reported.

(1) OJ L 337, 12.12.1998.