EU plans could lead to the scrapping of the 110-year-old British number plate design were condemned last night.
The European Parliament is plannung proposals for a common European design for all vehicle licence plates. It also calls for all vehicles and number plates to be fitted with 'identification tags'.
The move has also raised fears Europe could force all number plates to carry the EU flag.
Last night Tory MEPs rounded on the move, branding it 'stupid'. There was also lots of opposition from motoring groups and fears about the price of replacing existing plates with a new design.
The suggestion of identity tags - supposedly intended to protect against fraud - raised fears it could lead to an EU-wide database of vehciles.
A spokesman for the RAC said: '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.'
'It ought to be possible to come up with a set of common guidelines that allow all countries to adapt their licence plates slightly without going for full standardisation.
'If that really has to be the way, perhaps the UK's number plates should form the basis of a new harmonised standard, especially as several other countries already use a very clear format closely resembling ours.'
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