Fuel Protests Focus on Scandinavia

Sept. 18 -- The wave of fuel price protests sweeping through Europe regained momentum today after a weekend lull, forcing already shaken governments to implement political damage control measures.

In Norway, truckers called a wildcat strike and blocked 11 oil terminals at key ports along the south and west coasts, but later called off their protest under threat of police action.

The truckers gave up the call for a strike after state oil firm Statoil asked police to stop the blockade, citing economic losses and a risk of claims from large customers if it continued.

“Statoil has reported the blockade to the police and we have therefore decided to call off the demonstrations immediately,” the independent Car Owners’ Interest Associations said in a statement today.

Norway underwent a weekend of panic especially in remote areas of the country where cars are a vital part of everyday life.

Oil companies said that Norway’s 3.2 million barrels per day output had been unaffected by the blockade. The nation is the second biggest exporter after Saudi Arabia.

Sweeping the Continent

Protests in Europe centered around Scandinavia but blockades sprang up at the Spanish port of Barcelona and in Slovenia. Israeli truckers threatened to stage their own demonstrations starting on Tuesday.

Spain was the focus of some tough action as fishermen in Barcelona sealed off the port and truckers laid siege to fuel distribution points in the center of the country.

In Sweden, truckers and farmers today blocked access to ferries, which are the country’s lifeline to the rest of Europe. Similar actions were taken in Denmark.

In the Netherlands, go-slow protests, which caused rush-hour misery last week, were suspended after a major demonstration Friday as truckers, taxi drivers and farmers were mulling government offers of a series of rebates and tax concessions.

The German government was scrambling to achieve unity within its own ranks ahead of a planned major boycott campaign by truckers and farmers scheduled to start Thursday.