WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2527/97 by Joan VALLVÉ to the Commission. Renewed attacks on French farmers
Date: 1997-07-24
Institutions: European Parliament, VALLVE
Subjects: France, Spain, application of EU law, carriage of goods, commercial vehicle, farmer, free movement of goods, fruit, vegetable, violence

17. 3. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 82/101

(98/C 82/165)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2527/97

by Joan Vallve· (ELDR) to the Commission

(24 July 1997)

Subject: Renewed attacks on French farmers

A lorry from Murcia was attacked near Marseilles by French farmers on 3 July 1997 › the latest in a series of acts
of  vandalism  against  lorries  transporting  Spanish  fruit  and  vegetables.  The  French  farmers  threw  the  goods
(pears, nectarines and peaches) out of the lorry after taking part in violent protests against Spanish exports of fruit
and vegetables.

Given  that  the  situation  has  flared  up  once  more,  does  the  Commission  intend  to  take  stricter  measures  to
guarantee the free movement of goods and ensure fair competition between fruit and vegetable producers?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(5 September 1997)

The  Commission  firmly  condemns  this  fresh  attack  on  the  principle  of  the  free  movement  of  goods.  As  the
Commission has stated on numerous occasions, it is for the French authorities to take the public order measures
necessary to prevent such exactions and an escalation of violence.

In the light of these acts, which have been repeated for too many years, the Commission has taken legal action
against  France  in  the  Court  of  Justice  for  failure  to  fulfil  its  obligations.  The  case  (C-  265/95)  was  heard  on
10  June  1997.  On  9  July  1997,  delivering  an  Opinion  favourable  to  the  arguments  put  forward  by  the
Commission, the Advocate General stated:

(cid:145)Accordingly,  I  propose  that  the  Court  should  hold  that,  by  failing  to  take  all  necessary  and  proportionate
measures to prevent the actions of individuals from hindering the free movement of fruit and vegetables, the
French  Republic  has  failed  to  fulfil  the  obligations  arising  from  the  common  organizations  of  the  market  in
agricultural products and from Article 30 of the EC Treaty in conjunction with Article 5 thereof (cid:145).

Pending the Court’s final judgment, the Commission has urged the French authorities to take the preventive and
repressive measures necessary to avoid a repetition of such incidents.

(98/C 82/166)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2528/97

by Marjo Matikainen-Kallstro¤m (PPE) to the Commission

(24 July 1997)

Subject: Safety of nuclear power stations in Ukraine

Apart from the Chernobyl plant, there are at present two nuclear power stations in Ukraine, which have not yet
been completed. However, the Ukrainians intend to build these two reactors, although without Western technical
aid and funding there is no chance of their achieving adequate safety standards.

Ukraine(cid:146)s geopolitical situation is particularly difficult, since the Ukrainians do not want to buy more expensive
electricity  from  Russia  and  thus  increase  their  dependency  on  their  neighbouring  country.  However,  the
conditions in winter in Ukraine are very severe, and it is essential to obtain electricity for heating.

How does the Commission propose to ensure that Ukrainian nuclear power stations are adequate to meet Western
safety standards, and what measures will it take to ensure that the Chernobyl plant is closed?