RHA presses UK Government for action on Channel Disruption

Once again industry and innocent bystanders have been affected by disputes unrelated to their travel, which is supposed to be protected by the Treaty of Rome. This week French fishermen blockaded 3 French Channel ports for 2 days protesting about fish quotas, which had already been decided by the EU and France. The French Government offered some financial compensation but, so far, no review of the quotas.

RHA Head of International Affairs, Peter Cullum said: "Two MEPs asked questions of the European Commission but so far as we know without a firm answer. There is a warning procedure for any threat to EU transport bottlenecks but, in the case of the Channel ports, strikers make sure they get around the rules. When Eurotunnel was threatened the French government said it would secure it. We cannot understand why the ports are not protected in the same way? We will be asking for an explanation from the French Government.

“The Channel Ports are strategic assets for the UK. Repeated disruptions are a threat to the UK economy and the proper working of the European Union, and must be dealt with as such. The RHA has asked the sponsoring department, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform for early talks to discuss the future of this important link and making the warning procedure deliver effective outcomes.

“If we do not protect our supply lines, talks of economic recovery and supply chain efficiency look like little more than conversation. We feel it is time to deal with those who act little different from modern day pirates”.