Lorry drivers paralyse EU capitals Special report: The petrol war Ian Black in Brussels Wednesday September 13, 2000 Blocked roads, wildcat action and frayed nerves tested the patience of commuters and consumers across continental Europe again yesterday as anger over the price of petrol spread - hitting Germany for the first time. In the centre of the Belgian capital Brussels lorries sealed off all exits to the Rond Point Schuman - considered the symbolic heart of Europe - as talks between the Belgian government and militant hauliers continued for a second day. Further afield, Polish drivers and fishermen were reported to be considering blockades against the country's fuel depots, refineries and ports. The European commission said it was powerless to act against blockades unless the movement of goods across EU frontiers was affected. But ambassadors of the 15 member states agreed to hold an emergency meeting of their transport ministers next week. France's controversial deci sion to concede fuel tax cuts after six days of protests and blockades by truckers and farmers has, however, made it hard for other European governments to hold the line. Also in Brussels, motoring organisations from five countries, including the British RAC, called on governments to negotiate with Opec - the cartel of oil-producing countries - whose announcement of increased production to lower pump prices last week has done nothing to end protests, or to convince governments to reduce fuel taxes. "Governments should not give tax concessions to minority special interest groups taking direct action," the RAC said. "Rather they should defend the public interest and secure the right to mobility at an affordable price." Protests continued in the Netherlands, with blockades slowing traffic on motorways surrounding Rotterdam, the capital Amsterdam and its airport at Schipol. In Germany, truckers threatened to disrupt the country's transport network from tomorrow. Farmers in Hamburg said they would join the country's transport and taxi strike to press the government to cut diesel taxes and postpone plans to introduce an ecological tax on fuel. Police said that about 100 trucks were joined by bus and taxi drivers for a protest at Saarbrücken. The German finance minister, Hans Eichel, repeated that scrapping the country's new energy tax would mean a rise in pension contributions. Belgian truckers mounted their third day of blockades, vowing to stay put for weeks unless the government met their demands for lower diesel prices. Action spread to the southern cities of Charleroi and Nivelles. "One week, 15 days, three weeks - no problem," said lorry driver Jean Bury. Lorry drivers in Ireland have also vowed to take action from Friday unless their similar demands are met, though the Dublin government has said it will not act outside its budget framework. Angry Spanish farmers were reportedly planning a series of protests after talks with the government in Madrid failed to reach a deal on how to compensate them for rising transport costs. _______________________________________________ Marxism-Thaxis mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.wwpublish.com/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis
