Press Release: Free movement of goods: Belgium referred to Court over car registration procedure

The European Commission has decided to take Belgium to the EU Court of Justice over its rules relating to the registration of used cars imported from another Member State, notably the requirement to present a certificate of conformity for an imported vehicle and failure to recognise the validity of roadworthiness tests undertaken in other Member States. Under Directive 1999/37/EC on the registration documents for vehicles, the registration of a used car should be possible upon presentation of a valid harmonised registration certificate issued in another Member State. The Commission has referred this case to the Court of Justice because Belgium has failed to fulfil its obligations under EU law and so created unjustified obstacles to the free movement of used cars within the EU's Single Market.