European Commission picks a fight with Germany

[KentPhilip]

Yes, but they were very slow. In those days there was l’ hovercraft taking about 45 minutes or an old rust bucket run by Belgian Railways (RMT) that chugged along so slow it took 4+ hours!

Indeed

I took the Oostend to Ramsgate ferry a couple of times 3 years ago. Run by eastern europeans it was stuck in a 25-year old time warp.
They ran an old Townsend Thoreson ferry, the sister to the Herald of Free Enterprise which capsized in nearby Zeebrugge.

I could only hope the bow doors were shut..

[Paddy]

There's always the Oostend to Ramsgate ferry, to avoid France completely. Did you try that?

Yes, but they were very slow. In those days there was l’ hovercraft taking about 45 minutes or an old rust bucket run by Belgian Railways (RMT) that chugged along so slow it took 4+ hours!

[KentPhilip]

In the “old days” I used to get stopped and turned back if I attempted to drive through France with German Zoll plates however, when I bought a car in France on TT plates they told me I could drive in any country. One time I was caught with a new BMW sneaking across from Belgium to France on a on Zoll plates on an unclassified road; I was held by the border police for six hours until they get fed up and wanted to home. They told me to go back to Belgium. The French have always been the ones to pick and choose EU laws.

There's always the Oostend to Ramsgate ferry, to avoid France completely. Did you try that?

[Paddy]

Its not the EU, its France that is kicking up a fuss, what is the phrase, be careful biting the hand that feeds you

In the “old days” I used to get stopped and turned back if I attempted to drive through France with German Zoll plates however, when I bought a car in France on TT plates they told me I could drive in any country. One time I was caught with a new BMW sneaking across from Belgium to France on a on Zoll plates on an unclassified road; I was held by the border police for six hours until they get fed up and wanted to home. They told me to go back to Belgium. The French have always been the ones to pick and choose EU laws.

[Doggy Styles]

This was kept a bit quiet wasn't it?

[darmstadt]

Blimey, the Telegraph is on the ball! This was reported some months ago and talks were held between the German government and the EU about it. Maybe someone at the Telegraph did't get enough discount on their new Mercedes. Maybe Mercedes will charge the EU full whack for their limousines to ferry the overpaid mandarins around (surely they should all be travelling by public transport / foot / bicycle / environmentally friendly vehicles / pick your choice by now except that wouldn't befit a senior European Civil ******!)

[SimonMac]

Its not the EU, its France that is kicking up a fuss, what is the phrase, be careful biting the hand that feeds you

[Mich the Tester]

Ban on selling new Mercedes in EU moves closer - Telegraph

My money's on ze Germans.