Alarming situation in the port of Calais — Safety of endangered lorry drivers

2.7.2015

Question for written answer P-010733-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Andor Deli (PPE) , Patricija Šulin (PPE) , Dubravka Šuica (PPE) , Marian-Jean Marinescu (PPE) , Georges Bach (PPE) , Renaud Muselier (PPE) , Wim van de Camp (PPE) , Deirdre Clune (PPE) , Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska (PPE) , Elissavet Vozemberg (PPE) , Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar (PPE) , Ádám Kósa (PPE) , Csaba Sógor (PPE) , Andrea Bocskor (PPE) , Jérôme Lavrilleux (PPE) , Ildikó Gáll-Pelcz (PPE) , Tokia Saïfi (PPE) , Norbert Erdős (PPE) , Kinga Gál (PPE) , Pál Csáky (PPE) , György Hölvényi (PPE) , András Gyürk (PPE)

In recent weeks, the situation in the French port of Calais has worsened and aid workers are warning of ‘catastrophic’ scenes. In the first six months of 2015 nearly 7 500 migrants — double the number of last year — were caught trying to sneak onto lorries and boats, often risking their safety and even lives. Moreover, around 4 000 migrants in a refugee camp close to Calais will also try to make their way across the Channel using this method. Drivers are basically afraid for their lives as migrants attack both them and their lorries in order to sneak into Great Britain. They break the locked doors of the lorries or jump inside. The lorry drivers are helpless; they are unable to defend themselves, their lorries or their load. Many of them already refuse to transport goods to Great Britain or to use the Calais port.

1. What steps does the Commission plan to take to tackle this phenomenon and to guarantee the secure and free movement of goods and services within the EU?

2. In the light of their worsened working conditions, what measures does the Commission intend to take to ensure the health and safety of lorry drivers?