21/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is carrying out several infringement proceedings in the field of taxation. Tobacco. 1) It will take action at the Court of Justice against France whose legislation on the retail trade of cigarettes fixes minimum prices. On the basis of EU case-law (cases C-302/00 and C-216/98), it advises that excise duties on cigarettes should be increased to reduce cigarette consumption. 2) The infringement procedure against Belgium will be closed, as Belgium is now in line with EU law. Registration tax. Romania and Malta will receive a letter of formal notice inviting them to amend their legislation on the vehicle registration tax that would restrict imports of second-hand vehicles from other member states. Miscellaneous. 1) Under EU rules on State aid, the Commission has opened review procedure of the Hungarian taxation regime on interests generated during intra-group transactions. 2) It has extended the procedure aimed at the tax regime for Belgian coordination centres (see EUROPE 9217). (mb)