France has rejected a decision by the EU Commission insisting that abolition of duty-free sales in the EU must go ahead as planned at the end of June. The French government said that the decision, on Wednesday, was "unsatisfactory". Ireland, Germany and Britain have also rejected the ruling by the Commission.

German Chancellor Mr Gerhard Schroder described it as "incomprehensible" and "not justified in any way". The office of French Prime Minister Mr Lionel Jospin said yesterday:

"The decision of the EU Commission on duty-free shopping is not satisfactory. In common with our German, British and Irish partners, we believe that the conclusions of the last EU council meeting in Vienna should be respected."