Press Release: Free movement of goods: Commission refers Spain to Court over heavy goods vehicle restrictions

The European Commission has decided to refer Spain to the European Court of Justice because it imposes barriers to imports of heavy goods vehicles in breach of EU rules on the free movement of goods. In particular, Spanish authorities refuse to authorise for commercial use the first vehicle in road haulage operators' fleets if it is more than five months old.

The Commission considers that this Spanish requirement disregards the fact that these vehicles comply with European and/or national technical requirements which make them technically fit for driving in the Member State of origin.

The Commission also believes that Spain has not justified this requirement on the basis of a legitimate justification such as environmental protection or road safety; it considers that less restrictive alternative measures would be available to the Spanish authorities to achieve such objectives.