The black sheep of the family
Page 6
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UNLESS they are prepared to have fisticuff confrontations between their farmers and foreign lorry drivers, the French government must tell their farmers and the police that hijackings and harassment must cease or be severely punished. Not all drivers will be as passive and diplomatic as those whom the French peasantry confronted last week, with the apparent acquiescence of the gendarmerie.
Dutch, Belgian, Irish and British drivers and their loads must not be put at risk. The Frenchmen involved in these incidents should be charged and made to pay full compensation to the aggrieved parties.
We know that the Freight Transport and Road Haulage Associations are not only concerned over the incidents, but are actively pursuing the matter through the official channels. We urge the Associations to raise the matter at the International Road Transport Union Congress in Venice in April.
The matter goes further than the activities of the farmers and inactivity of the police. The French customs officers are now adding to the obstacles of European trade. Delays at border posts are interfering with journey times, ferry bookings and, of course, deliveries of our exports. The delays are mainly caused through "manufactured reasons". On infrequent occasions the reasons are legitimate.
The IRU must take the matter seriously and nothing short of a sharp note to the French government will be satisfactory. For what it's worth, French hauliers sympathise with their European colleagues.