ZPP Newsletter
Warsaw, 15th June 2021
ZPP Report: Through administrative practices, protectionist regulations on the domestic market, and a smear campaign against Polish companies France makes it difficult for Polish entrepreneurs to operate
The problems faced by Polish entrepreneurs in France are enormous. Polish companies are harassed by excessive controls and fines. At the same time, French law contains provisions that openly violate the freedoms of the single market, while a slanderous media campaign creates a climate in which it is easy to justify additional controls and restrictions.
According to Cezary Kaźmierczak, President of the Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers (ZPP): “France has a difficult time with accepting Polish entrepreneurs in a role other than cheap subcontractors. What we are dealing with are various repressions against Polish companies, and we believe that the Polish authorities are not fighting this phenomenon with enough spirit. If we want to change something in these matters, it is necessary to appropriately treat contractors from Western Europe who operate in Poland.”
The Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers published a report which collects entrepreneurs’ stories and recounts their problems related to running a business in France. While the report was being created, the Union encountered severe methodological limitations. In fear f repercussions from the French authorities, numerous entrepreneurs chose not to discuss their problems or asked for confidentiality and anonymity. Fear is therefore an important factor limiting the availability of data.
The story of FructoFresh is testament to how the French administration allows domestic companies to build their economic position while in direct violation of European law – to the detriment of both consumer safety and the integrity of the single market. The French labour inspection intimidated the representative of Aterima Work to such a degree that he gave up running business operations in France. And the case of the unlawful impound of a vehicle owned by a Polish transport company shows just how painful the inactivity of the authorities can be in the face of problems of Polish companies.
“Moreover, applying the notion of social dumping stigmatises posted workers. The very concept is based on comparing the illegal practice of marketing products below their production price with the perfectly legal practice of carrying out work at a more competitive rate. It also suggests that working in another member state is something forbidden, when in fact it is one of the foundations of the single market,” adds Kamila Sotomska, the Union’s Deputy Director of the Department of Law and Legislation.
