EU court threat to Italy

THE European Commission has formally threatened the Italian government with legal action at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) over national regulations that prevent companies based in foreign European Union (EU) countries from registering vehicles in Italy.

The rule applies even to companies permanently doing business in the country.

The commission said it considered this a breach of Italy’s EU treaty commitments, namely Article 43 of the Treaty of European Union that guarantees freedom of establishment.