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Denmark traffic chaos as hauliers form blockades despite CO2 tax protest being officially cancelled

The remonstrations over Denmark's CO2 kilometre-based tax have taken another dramatic turn after many hauliers and drivers decided to form blockades - despite the fact the official protest had been cancelled by its organisers on Thursday.

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Gregor Gowans

Gregor Gowans

Journalist Trans.INFO

|

15.05.2023

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Reports by the Danish press and road traffic police this morning show that the blockades have already caused noticeable disruption.

Border crossings and the motorway linking Copenhagen airport are among the areas said to be affected.

Readers may recall that the Road Tax Committee, which had been formed to protest again the proposed CO2 tax, dissolved itself last Thursday. Once that news broke, it appeared that the plans for road blockades and other protests were all but over.

However, it appears that many hauliers and drivers are so frustrated by the government proposals that they have decided to risk police fines by forming blockades anyway.

Photos shared on social media show many trucks and fishing fleets taking part in today’s action, many of whom have a blockade banner attached to their vehicles or vessels.

According to Danish TV station TV2, some lorry drivers who formed blockades in the Copenhagen area this morning were fined and charged. TV2 also reports that there has been disruption in Aalborg.

Meanwhile, echoing comments made last week, Danish haulage and logistics associations have criticised the decision to protest by blocking roads. Some individual hauliers have also come out against today’s blockades, including Frode Laursen.

Critics of today’s blockades claim that the disruption from the protests will harm their message and make it difficult for the industry to receive support from the general public.

Jeppe Bruus, Denmark’s Tax Minister, told TV2 this morning that he was in dialogue with the persons in the group that had officially cancelled this morning’s blockade. Although he hinted there was room for maneuver, the Minister stressed that the bill would not be withdrawn.

Photo: Tomasz Sienicki [user: tsca, mail: tomasz.sienicki at gmail.com], CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (illustrative image)