THE European Commission is taking Finland to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) claiming that the country’s vehicle transfer permit system breaks European Union (EU) freedom of movement of goods rules. Residents of Finland wanting to bring into the country a vehicle previously registered and used in another EU member state must apply at the Finnish border for a temporary transfer permit, including temporary licence stickers.

The Finnish government argues that the current system is necessary for fiscal supervision, road safety, road traffic control and updating its vehicle registers. However, Brussels claims this transfer permit system is an illegal ‘disproportionate and unnecessary obstacle’ to moving goods around Europe.