Brussels, 25/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 24 January 2013, the European Commission asked France in an official warning letter to observe EU rules on the free circulation of ambulances in the EU and to change its rules on registration and use of ambulances. The Commission says ambulances registered in another member state cannot be used in France as a matter of course because France requires additional checks and certificates, ignoring any checks and certificate requirements in other member states, thus ignoring mutual recognition. The additional demands made by France contravene the European Union's single market rules by making the use of ambulances imported into France more difficult and expensive. The cost of the checks demanded by France is a massive €35,000 per ambulance, according to the Commission's figures! It has given France two months to comply, failing which it may be sent to the European Court of Justice. (SP/transl.fl)