Brussels, 10/01/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has asked France to inform it, within two days, o the measures taken to avoid serious obstacles to the free movement of goods in the single market, following the difficulties caused by he road blocks. The Commission recalls that the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice according to which failure to act on the part of a government faced with events of this type may be considered as an infringement to the provisions of the treaty. Of course, actions by national authorities must respect the essential principles like the right to strike It is up to national authorities to decide on what measures to take.
If the Commission is not satisfied with the French answers, it may note the existence of obstacles to the free movement of goods and formally ask for them to be lifted within five days. According to available information, the road blocks have created serious difficulties on Monday in goods traffic between France, Spain, Germany, Italy and Belgium. The road blocks have been organised by French haulier against the application of the 35-hour working week in their profession.