THE EUROPEAN Commission is threatening legal action against France, Poland and Austria for allegedly breaking European Union (EU) freedom of trade laws by impeding the import of cars into their territories.

Brussels objects to Austria’s double-checking of European certificates of conformity. For Poland, the Commission says Polish rules impose stricter conditions registering imported second-hand cars than re-registering cars already used in the country. In France, Commission pressure has eased administrative procedures, ‘however more changes are needed’ it said.