The European Parliament is considering proposals for a common design for all EU vehicle number plates and is calling for vehicles and number plates to be fitted with ‘identification tags’, according to a report in the Daily Mail.
The Daily Mail says there is “opposition from motoring groups and fears about the cost of replacing existing plates with a new design”.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Syed Kamall, leader of Britain’s Conservative MEPs, said: “We aim to keep our number plates just as they are, thank you.
“You can bet your life the common design would incorporate the EU flag. The Eurocrats have failed to force us to put their symbol on our sports shirts or to fly it above our public buildings – now they are trying make it compulsory on our cars. Most British motorists want British number plates – not European ones.”
The proposal emerged in European Parliament documents seen by the Daily Mail.
The documents state: “The Commission should consider whether the cross-border trade in and free movement of vehicles could be further increased by introducing safeguards against fraudulent use of number plates and by equipping vehicles and their number plates with identification tags
“The Commission could also consider whether the obstacles faced by citizens and businesses when transferring their vehicles from one Member State to another could be further offset if there were a possibility of equipping their vehicles with number plates in common colours.”
Simon Williams, spokesman for the RAC, told the Daily Mail: “The British number plate is simple, highly effective and, while it has changed several times over the years, has been part of our driving heritage for 110 years.
“While there are clearly benefits to be had from having the same style of number plate throughout Europe with identification tags to stop fraud, it would be a real shame to lose ours.”
I have an apartment in Cyprus and there they have already been made to use the EU standard number plates which to me look the same as the German ones. All motorcycles have been forced to change and all new cars. Old cars do not have to change unless they need new plates for any reason.
Roger Andreason Manchester
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No thanks – we do not want the EU dictating us British! Leave us alone with our own British car number plates please.
Jean Morley Somerset.
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For your information, Honor, the DfT told me that when the datime running light proposal first emerged, it was intentended for all vehicles not just new ones. As one of what the Telegraph in 1988 called “a small number of concerned individuals” who exposed Corpus Juris, the EU plan to eliminate the whole of our legal system and replace it with Continental style Napoleonic code, and having spent tens of thousands of hours studying the EU and its intentions, I have no doubt whatever that they wish to replace all existing number plates.
Idris Francis Fight Back With Facts Petersfield
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One of the instantly recognisable features of foreign cars in the UK was the format of the number plate. It needed no national symbol or flag, and the nationality plate affixed to the rear would confirm the nationality. But the EU commission is determined to eradicate nationality for ‘harmony’, and ensure more billions are spent at the consumers cost to be part of united state. No thanks.
Secondly, which nation will be the chosen format? By far the most visibly clear one is that of the UK. Or will there be a competition for something all encompassing? As for ID, that’s what the number is for. Any further ID tag is just something else to be cloned – and it would be.
Derek Reynolds, Salop.
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Surely only the gullible would think that it is practical to retrofit new number plates on all current vehicles in all EU countries. I see no reason why number plates design should not be harmonised across EU on future new vehicles, and after all input from EU countries such as UK.
Rod King, 20’s Plenty for Us
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No wonder a certain party will do very well in the upcoming Euro elections.
Pete, Westminster
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The high cost estimates quoted will only apply if the system is made to be retrospective.
Honor Byford, Chair, Road Safety GB
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As soon as I read that this “news” was obtained from the Daily Mail, I started to take it with an exceptionally large pinch of salt. I’m surprised the report does not blame migrants or benefit claimants. I don’t suppose that there is a European Election coming up soon is there?
Martin – Suffolk
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When the current style of 7 characters was introduced around 2002 the EU symbol (not flag, the EU is not yet a State) was allowed but our own flag(s) would be illegal in their place. That soon proved to be unenforcible and after a few years the law was changed to allow any one of our own 5 flags to be used. I predict the same again if this further act of provocation is pursued. The only EU symbols I have on my cars are the ones with diagonal red stripe above the words “No thanks”.
Does no one in Brussels realise that this change would require not only £1bn of new number plates in Britain alone, but even greater administrative costs in selecting and issuing new numbers, registration documents and re-issing insurance policies to show those new numbers. Does anyone in Brussels seriously believe that costs of that magnitude – perhaps £50bn in all – could ever be recovered?
Idris Francis Fight Back With Facts Petersfield
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