A blockade by French truck drivers, seeking to paralyse the road network in protest over pay and conditions, yesterday sparked angry reaction, emergency talks and contingency plans across Europe. Government officials and representatives of non-French transport unions criticised the action as a violation of freedom of movement within the European Union. They urged the French government to ensure free passage for non-French vehicles and called for compensation for expected loss in exports.
The European Commission said member-states were legally obliged to ensure the free movement of people and goods within the single market. It warned of knock-on effects for European business and employment.
The prospect of prolonged disruption aroused particular concern in Spain, where transport associations said they would lose nearly £2 million a day in the event of a total blockade.
The Spanish young farmers' association urged a boycott of French products in protest at the roadblocks, which, it charged, were specifically aimed at damaging Spanish agricultural production. "The coincidental timing shows a clear intention to harm Spanish. . .products," a spokesman said.
British supermarkets drew up contingency plans to get fresh produce from France into the country by using container ships and rerouting some supplies through ports in Belgium.
Britain's Foreign Secretary, Mr Robin Cook, said the Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, would discuss the strike at a meeting with President Chirac on Thursday.
The International Road Transport Union (IRU), which includes all European countries, affirmed that barely more than 10 per cent of those European truckers affected last year had received compensation from French authorities.
The Danish Transport Minister, Mr Bjoern Westh, said he would put forward to the European Commission the idea of setting up transport corridors for nonFrench truck drivers crossing France.
In the Netherlands, the Dutch Transport Minister, Ms Annemarie Jorritsma, was expected to receive representatives of transport unions, some of whom already have demanded a government pledge on financial compensation.
However, the transport sector of the largest Dutch union grouping, the Socialist FNV, expressed solidarity with French counterparts, although it advised truckers to avoid areas in danger of being blocked.
In Vienna, there was also muted support for the strike. The head of the Austrian transit association, Mr Karl Fiegl, said the truckers' strike had "some justification" because they were very badly paid.
Britain yesterday ordered a ship due to sail to France with a cargo of live sheep to stay in port because it feared the animals would suffer if they became snarled in blockades.
The Agriculture Minister, Mr Jack Cunningham, advised other would-be exporters of live animals against shipments while the strike continued, and said he would prohibit sailings if this advice was ignored.
Mr Cunningham's announcement marked a minor victory for British animal rights campaigners, who have been calling for years for a permanent ban on live animal exports, alleging that animals suffer from thirst, hunger and overcrowding during transport.