WRITTEN QUESTION E-0153/00 by Alonso Puerta (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Barriers to free movement by road at French frontiers.
Date: 2000-01-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: France, application of EU law, free movement of goods, indemnification

C 303 E/150

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

24.10.2000

(2000/C 303 E/162)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0148/00

by Nicholas Clegg (ELDR) to the Commission

(24 January 2000)

Subject: Croatia(cid:146)s accession to the WTO

In view of the recent election of a progressive new government in Croatia, could the Commission explain
why Croatia(cid:146)s accesison to the WTO has been stalled for several months due to objections from the
European Union? What action is being taken to ensure that Croatia accedes to the WTO as soon as
possible, in line with the EU(cid:146)s wider policy towards the Balkans?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(17 February 2000)

The Commission is committed to a rapid conclusion of the negotiations on the accession of Croatia to the
World trade organization (WTO). The political changes that are taking place in Croatia make it possible to
follow a new path in bilateral relations. However, as this new path is one of closer integration with the
Union this integration should not be made more difficult for both the Community and Croatia by the
latter(cid:146)s terms of accession to the WTO. Negotiations with the interested parties continue and will be
intensified in the weeks to come to reach soon a satisfactory conclusion.

(2000/C 303 E/163)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0153/00

by Alonso Puerta (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(31 January 2000)

Subject: Barriers to free movement by road at French frontiers

From 10 to 12 January 2000, road transport employers(cid:146) organisations in France blocked the frontiers with
Spain, Italy, Germany and Belgium, as well as the ports linking France and the United Kingdom, in protest
at the law on the 35-hour week and the increase in the price of diesel oil.

fruit and vegetables, with
the busiest months for Spanish exporters of
January is usually one of
6 000 million pesetas worth of exports expected to cross French frontiers by road each day, while there
is a risk that the blockade will shortly lead to a supply surplus and a collapse of prices on the European
market.

What measures has the Commission taken or will it take to ensure that, in accordance with the rules in
force, France compensates exporters and hauliers for the losses they have suffered, dealing with the claims
promptly and providing adequate compensation commensurate with the damage caused?

What further measures could the Commission take to restore freedom of movement in future if events
similar to those in France recur?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(16 March 2000)

The Honourable Member has drawn the Commission(cid:146)s attention to the considerable economic impact on
the Community(cid:146)s fruit and vegetable companies of the border blockades imposed by French hauliers from
9 to 12 January 2000.

The Commission would like to stress that it decided to implement the provisions of Council Regulation
(EC) No 2679/98 of 7 December 1998 on the functioning of the internal market in relation to the free

24.10.2000

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 303 E/151

movement of goods among the Member States (1), in order to restore free movement of goods as soon as
possible and hence to keep to a minimum the damage caused to Community operators.

The Commission therefore requested information from the French authorities on 10 January 2000, under
Article 3 of this Regulation, calling on them to inform the Commission of measures taken to restore the
free movement of goods.

In their reply of 12 January 2000, the French authorities gave the Commission information concerning all
the measures they had taken to restore free movement. They also stated that, in order to protect the
interests of EU nationals who might suffer as a result of road blockades, the French Minister for the
Interior had placed particular emphasis on the measures to be taken by those responsible for law and order
to allow subsequent processing of any claims for compensation.

it is in fact the
On this point the Commission would like to repeat
responsibility of the Member States to compensate operators whose rights under Article 28 (ex Article
30) may have been infringed.

that, under Community law,

(1) OJ L 337, 12.12.1998.

(2000/C 303 E/164)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0157/00

by Jorge HernÆndez Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Modernisation and business incentive plan for Andalusia

(26 January 2000)

On the scale of per capita wealth covering the autonomous communities of Spain, which is calculated as a
percentage of Spain(cid:146)s average per capita GDP, the region of Andalusia scores a disappointing 72,26 %,
compared with 154,48 % for the Balearic Islands, the region which tops the rankings.

For Andalusia to close the gap that currently separates it from both the rest of Spain and the remainder of
the Community regions (cid:129) amongst which it sadly finds itself towards the bottom of the rankings (cid:129)
80 000 businesses would have to be set up there over the next four years as a means of bringing full
employment to the autonomous community.

Can the Commission say whether it takes the view that, over and above existing Community policies
which foster economic development in Andalusia, it ought to help launch a modernisation and business
incentive plan for the region to boost the creation of enterprises in deprived areas and provide small
businesses with access to more attractive sources of funding enabling them to expand and prosper?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(24 February 2000)

In its draft guidance for programmes (1) adopted on 1 July 1999, the Commission underlined amongst
other things the importance that it attaches to support measures for small and medium-sized businesses
(SMEs), both setting them up and developing them, by focusing on the information society, networking
and the aid services which will be open to SMEs.

The Commission received Spain(cid:146)s regional development plan for the regions eligible under Objective 1 in
the 2000-06 programming period on 29 October 1999. We are currently analysing this proposal in order
to finalise, in partnership with the Spanish authorities, the Community support framework which will lay
down the conditions for implementing the programming. The Commission will try to ensure that the
priorities identified by the Spanish authorities are taken into account in an appropriate manner in the
ensuing measures and forms of assistance.

(1) Commission staff working paper SEC(1999) 103 final:

(cid:145)The Structural Funds and their coordination with the

Cohesion Fund (cid:129) Draft guidance for programmes in the period 2000-2006(cid:146).