France delays Mont Blanc freight opening

The long closure has infuriated Italian hauliers

France has postponed opening the Mont Blanc tunnel to freight traffic in a decision that is likely to enrage neighbouring Italy.

After pressure from Rome and the European Union, the French proposed on Thursday to allow coaches and small lorries back into the tunnel - a key trade route for Italy to northern Europe.

However, the authorities decided on Friday to delay the move because heavy car traffic was expected over the Easter holiday season.

They added it would go ahead over the coming days, but did not specify a date.

The Mont Blanc tunnel was closed in 1999 after a fire which killed 39 people, and was re-opened for cars earlier this month.

Legal threats

Italy went to Brussels earlier this week, accusing France of breaking European Union rules on the free movement of trade between member states by keeping the tunnel closed to goods traffic.

Click here to see a map of trans-Alpine tunnels

The country says it has lost more than $2bn in trade due to the closure.

Faced with the threat of legal action, France agreed to gradually re-open the tunnel to lorries.

Under the deal, heavy traffic is to be allowed back into the tunnel by the summer.

Environmentalists strongly oppose the agreement. Local people say the air has become cleaner during the absence of trucks, and that the snow near the tunnel entrance is no longer stained black.

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