WRITTEN QUESTION P-3540/03 by Toine Manders (ELDR) to the Commission. Disruption of the internal market (in meat) in France.
Date: 2003-11-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: France, free movement of goods, import restriction, pigmeat, single market, strike

C 70 E/264

Official Journal of the European Union

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20.3.2004

(2004/C 70 E/285)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3405/03

by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 November 2003)

Subject: Management of the Structural Funds

With regard to the management of Structural Fund monies for Objectives 1, 2 and 3 (2000-2006), will the
Commission please state who the designated payment and management authorities are in Austria, Belgium,
France, Germany, Italy and Spain?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(11 December 2003)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its
findings as soon as possible.

(2004/C 70 E/286)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3487/03

by Albert Maat (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 November 2003)

Subject: French action against pigmeat from other EU Member States

The transport of pigmeat into France has recently been seriously threatened by the heavy-handed actions
of French farmers: lorries have been stopped, meat-processing plants invaded and Dutch, Spanish, Danish
and German pigmeat destroyed. As the French police have not
intervened, such actions are not
discouraged and the free movement of pigmeat within the EU is disrupted.

How does the Commission intend to eliminate this obstruction to freedom of movement?

Why is the Commission taking so long to discuss this disruption of the internal market with the French
Government?

(2004/C 70 E/287)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3540/03

by Toine Manders (ELDR) to the Commission

(24 November 2003)

Subject: Disruption of the internal market (in meat) in France

In recent weeks, in response to the difficult situation on the European market, French (pig) farmers have
repeatedly taken drastic steps to prevent
into France from countries such as the
imports of meat
Netherlands, Spain and Germany. Lorries transporting meat have been stopped and the meat has then been
destroyed and the vehicles damaged. In addition, militant farmers have broken into a number of French
meat-processing plants and supermarkets and destroyed their stocks of imported meat.

Since then, the farmers have threatened even more serious protests against the processing and/or purchase
of non-French meat, with the result that supply contracts with firms from other European countries have
been suspended. Thus far, the French Government is refusing to intervene to deal with this disruption of
the internal market. This protection of France’s own market and the creation of obstacles to the free
movement of goods is posing a serious threat to the operation of the internal market in the (pig)meat
sector. In the short term, insurance companies will cover the direct losses, but in the long term the meat-
processing industry will lose a market.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Netherlands and other exporters are being forced to avoid making shipments to France. The French pig
farmers have thus achieved their objective of effectively halting imports, as a result of which jobs may be
lost in the sector in neighbouring countries. In view of the serious damage to the internal market and the
threat of further, similar protests, action by the European Commission is essential.

If prompt steps are not taken, there is a risk that meat-producing farmers from neighbouring countries will
carry out similar protests against French producers of, for example, wine, champagne and cheese. Many
ordinary Europeans may see their Christmas celebrations ruined, hence the need for immediate action.

1.

Is the Commission aware of this worrying situation in France?

2.
Does the Commission share my view that this behaviour on the part of French farmers and the
French Government represents a breach of the principle of the free movement of goods and, by extension,
a serious disruption of the internal market? If not, why not?

3.
Is the Commission planning to take action to persuade the French Government, which is refusing to
step in and deal with these serious obstacles to trade, to abandon its policy of inaction? If so, what
measures will it take in the short term? If not, why does it not see a need to intervene?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3487/03 and P-3540/03
given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 2003)

The problem raised by the Honourable Member was very recently brought to the attention of the
Commission by economic operators.

In the absence of details which would allow the Commission to conduct the necessary investigation into
the problem raised, the Commission has asked these operators, in a letter of 26 November 2003, for
further information in order to identify the dates, locations and exact nature of the alleged obstacles.

This information is essential for the Commission to be able to determine whether or not there is an
obstruction to free movement which is forbidden under Article 28 of the EC Treaty. If an obstruction does
exist, and is not removed, the Commission will examine the possibility of enforcing 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 aims to apply the principle of the free
movement of goods more speedily and more efficiently in order to deal with this kind of obstacle.

This information is essential in order to conduct an analysis of the factual and legal situation. As soon as
the Commission has obtained this analysis, it will draw the appropriate conclusions.

(1) OJ L 337, 12.12.1998.

(2004/C 70 E/288)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3514/03

by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission

(25 November 2003)

Subject: Course financed by means of the Structural Funds

On 11 November 2002 the Naples-based Istituto nazionale di
formazione per le imprese culturali
launched a course entitled ‘Content Specialist & Designer’ within the PON Asse III misura III 6/D-Codice
progetto 5387 discipline. The course is financed by means of the European Social Fund.