New routes to French payout
Page 12
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
by Karen Miles • France's inaction over compensation payments to hauliers trapped in last year's French blockade could be challenged through two new legal channels.
Spurred on by this month's pronouncement by the European Court of Justice's advocate-general, who attacked the French Government for allowing farmers to destroy Spanish lorries (CM 17-23July), the Road Haulage Association is pushing the European Commission to take legal action against the French for the consequences of last winter's strike.
The RHA is also taking legal advice to see if a preliminary move by the ECJthe European Union's court—will make it easier for hauliers to pursue their compensation claims through the French courts.
No money has been paid out to UK international operators who are estimated to have lost at least £1.8m when they were trapped in the blockade.
A compensation process agreed after the strike between the French and UK Governments has only brought agreement in principle on three claims, says RHA international controller Mike Freeman.
Both moves will depend on the ECJ's judges following the advice of the advocate-general, as expected.
In his advice, Carl Otto Lenz attacked the French Government for not taking enough action to prevent attacks by French farmers on Spanish fruit and vegetable hauliers three years ago.
He said that the French had therefore broken the EU Laws which protect the free movement of goods.