RHA offers hope on compensation by Karen Miles • UK
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hauliers hit by industrial action planned by the French during next month's World Cup may be able to claim swift compensation, according to the Road Haulage Association.
The RHA's hopes spring from an agreement made last week by European Union ministers aimed at making it easier for operators and the European Commission to begin fast-track court action against governments of member states if they fail to allow the free movement of goods along their roads.
The agreement, which was endorsed by the French government, is not expected to become law until next year. But, despite recent history, the RHA says it expects the French to "honour the agreement straight away".
The agreed regulation will allow individuals to seek injunctions to prevent blockades and to seek compensation. It will also allow the Commission to take the offending member state to the European Court of Justice within a matter of days.
Currently, it can take years before ECJ judges find against a government, and there are no legally binding instruments to help operators quickly enforce their rights.
Many UK hauliers are still trying to claim the £1.5m that they lost because of the French lorry drivers' blockade in November 1996.
Lord Simon, the UK minister for trade and competitiveness in Europe, says: "Member states have made a clear political commitment to solve this problem. They will have to act to remove serious obstacles to the free movement of goods and to inform the Commission and other member states about the action they intend to take."
111 As the World Cup approaches the RHA warns that UK hauliers face a series of blockades by French truckers. On Monday (25 May) there were a dozen lorry blockades in France.