MEPs in Strasbourg were expected to back plans for an EU-wide pollution-based car tax today.
The European Commission wants to scrap variations in national car and road taxes in the 25 EU member states in favour of a standard taxation system centred on carbon dioxide emissions.
However, the vote in the European Parliament will have no legal force, the scheme could only become law if approved unanimously by EU governments and there is currently no majority amongst member states for the plan.
The report due to be voted on warns against taking tax policy out of the hands of national governments but says different car tax systems are a consumer burden.
The current system particularly effects motorists from one country wanting to register their cars elsewhere in the EU when moving around Europe for work.
