WRITTEN QUESTION P-1016/02 by Dirk Sterckx (ELDR) to the Commission. Application of the strawberry regulation to France's obstruction of rail freight transport through the Channel Tunnel.
Date: 2002-04-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: France, United Kingdom, application of EU law, free movement of goods, illegal migration, public order

29.8.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 205 E/247

The call for proposals No 63/01 (2) and the administrative procedures of the town twinning grant scheme
correspond to the principles laid down by the Commission’s vade-mecum for grant management and by its
code of conduct for officials in their relation with the public, and respect the provisions of the article 41 of
the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

(1) http://europa.eu.intcomm/dgs/education_culture/towntwin/index_en.html.
(2) OJ C 283, 9.10.2001.

(2002/C 205 E/274)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1011/02

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Operation of the subsidised unit ‘Typopoiitiria Thivas’

(5 April 2002)

In its answer to my Question P-3402/01 (1) on the possible closure of ‘Typopoiitiria Thivas’ which has
been subsidised under Regulations (EEC) 355/77 (2) and 866/90 (3), the Commission expresses its interest in
the operation of the unit and states that it wrote to the Greek authorities on 23 November 2001
requesting them to give explanations and take corrective measures to ensure that the unit can operate
properly.

Will the Commission say whether it has received any reply to its letter of 23 November 2001 in which it
called on the Greek authorities to solve the problem rapidly? Does it know whether any procedure has
been set in motion to allow the unit to continue operating?

(1) OJ C 147 E, 20.6.2002.
(2) OJ L 51, 23.2.1977, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 91, 6.4.1990, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2002)

The Commission has not yet received an official reply from the Greek authorities and consequently has no
written information on whether a procedure to enable ‘Typopoiitiria Thivas’ to continue operating has
begun.

It has in the meantime received a complaint on the matter that it will deal with under the procedures in
force. In any event it rests with the Greek courts to rule in the dispute referred to them.

(2002/C 205 E/275)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1016/02

by Dirk Sterckx (ELDR) to the Commission

(8 April 2002)

Subject: Application of the ‘strawberry regulation’ to France’s obstruction of rail freight transport through

the Channel Tunnel

Regulation (EC) No 2679/98 (1), the so-called ‘strawberry regulation’, provides for a number of measures in
response to serious obstacles to the free movement of goods in a Member State.

France has been obstructing the free movement of goods by rail through the Channel Tunnel for months
now.

C 205 E/248

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.8.2002

What measures has France taken to comply with its obligations under this regulation? Has France taken ‘all
necessary and proportionate measures’
the free
movement of goods? Bearing in mind the Commission’s relatively adverse assessment of this regulation,
does it not regard the regulation as inadequate, and would it not be appropriate to tighten up its
provisions so that in future such situations as this one, which undermine the principle of the internal
market, can be remedied more quickly?

to put an end to this unacceptable obstruction of

(1) OJ L 337, 12.12.1998, p. 8.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(2 May 2002)

Since November 2001, freight traffic between France and the United Kingdom, via the Channel Tunnel,
has been regularly disrupted by the unlawful intrusion of large numbers of illegal immigrants at the site of
the SNCF goods station at Fréthun.

The Commission has taken action by applying 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) on 19 November 2001, 5 December 2001 and 14 March 2002.

In their latest response dated 20 March 2002, the French authorities indicated that the work on security
installations at the Fréthun site, such as erecting additional fences and raising existing fences to 260cm, has
been completed. Work on extending the length of the fence to 6 km and installing external video cameras
and detection devices is nearing completion. Other measures to strengthen the work already carried out
are being examined. The French authorities have promised that completion of the work announced would
mean that in June 2002 freight traffic through the tunnel would be back to its normal level prior to
October 2001. In addition, as of 18 March 2002, the number of security staff at the SNCF’s Frethun site
had been increased significantly to around 150 personnel.

In a letter of 26 March 2002 from Mr Bolkestein, the Member of the Commission responsible for the
Internal Market, Taxation and Customs Union, to Mr Moscovici, the French Minister for European Affairs,
the Commission took note of the range of measures announced and the commitments given by the French
authorities, asked the latter to pay careful attention to observing these commitments and reminded them
of
the aforementioned Regulation
No 2679/98. The Commission remains in close contact with the French authorities, the UK authorities
and the operators concerned, and a meeting will be organised in the near future on this topic in order to
identify all options which could lead to this issue being resolved as quickly as possible.

to systematically provide information under

their obligations

The Commission would stress that all the proposals and actions which it may put forward in order to
resolve the basic long-term problems, as highlighted by the situation regarding the movement of goods
through the Channel Tunnel, are already on the table. These relate mainly to European measures which
seek to create a common framework in the field of immigration and asylum.

With regard to Regulation No 2679/98, the Commission would remind the Honourable Member that, in
its report on the application of this Regulation (2), it had proposed that one of the avenues which could be
explored would be to amend the Regulation in order to expand and improve its scope. In its resolution of
27 September 2001,
rejected this suggestion, preferring to maintain the status quo
accompanied by a more vigorous approach to applying the Regulation.

the Council

(1) OJ L 337, 12.12.1998.
(2) COM(2001) 160 final of 22.3.2001.