EU gives France tunnel ultimatum

The long closure has infuriated Italian hauliers

The European Commission has told France to justify its decision to prevent heavy goods traffic from using the Mont Blanc tunnel, following heavy pressure from Italy.

We are hoping the French Government will give us a response, hoping that the obstacles will be quickly removed

Fritz Bolkestein
EU Internal Markets Commissioner

EU Internal Markets Commissioner Fritz Bolkestein has given France five days to respond to the request, after which the country could face legal action.

The heavily-used route under the Alps was closed three years ago after 39 people died when a lorry caught fire inside. It was re-opened, but only to cars, earlier this month.

Italy says France is being unfairly obstructive in not letting all traffic through the tunnel, which is a vital trade link for Italy. The country claims to have lost more than $2bn in trade due to the closure.

Click here to see a map of trans-Alpine tunnels

The French, however, raise safety and environmental concerns as a reason for not allowing heavy goods traffic back into the tunnel straight away.

Rage in Rome

Local people are strongly opposed to the return of lorries to the tunnel, arguing that the air has become cleaner during their absence, and that the snow near the tunnel entrance is no longer stained black.

Mr Bolkestein stressed that the request for France to justify itself did not automatically mean the country was violating its treaty obligations to ensure the free flow of goods, as Italy maintains.

However, the country must provide a satisfactory explanation to its actions before the start of next week.

"We are hoping the French Government will give us a response, and hoping that the obstacles will be quickly removed," Mr Bolkestein said in Brussels after meeting with Italian Transport Minister Pietro Lunardi.

Last week, France put forward its proposal for a "progressive and rapid" reopening of the link to smaller lorries, but that did not impress ministers in Rome.

"There is no physical or technical reason to prevent a total and immediate reopening," Mr Lunardi told the French daily Le Figaro in an edition published on Monday.

"One country cannot penalise another," he said. "The European Union must give us justice."

He also warned of a protest on 7 April by Italian and French lorry drivers if there was no progress.

---

Click here to return