The Free Movement of Goods as a Possible ‘Community’ Limitation on Industrial Conflict

The aim of this essay is to underline the fact that the process of achieving single market integration is very likely to influence the regulation of industrial conflict. In this perspective, the Commission v France judgment is analysed, in which the ECJ-through a combined interpretation of Article 30 (now 28) and Article 5 (now 10) of the Treaty-states that a Member State is obliged to adopt all ‘appropriate measures’ to remove any ‘obstacles’ impeding the free circulation of goods caused by private persons. A new Regulation (n. 2679/98) has followed the ECJ decision, instituting a system of notification of such obstacles arising, or the threat of them, and the right of the Commission to demand a formal reply from a State on whether it has taken, or will be taking the necessary and proportionate measures. The analysis of the principles adopted by the ECJ and of the Regulation shows that, at Community level, pressure is exerted on States to prevent the exercise of collective action as effectively as possible, if this damages inter-State trade. A transnational limit on industrial conflict thus emerges in the Community order, which may well affect the equilibria of national industrial relations in various ways. © Blackwell Publishers Ltd 2000.