Considered powerful, heavy-duty vehicles by their fans and dangerous gas-guzzling "monsters" by detractors -- could large pick-up trucks, long a staple on US roads, be about to roam in greater numbers across Europe?

An EU pledge to recognise US automotive standards left critics spooked it would open the door for more of the giant vehicles to be imported into the 27-nation bloc -- although the European Commission has moved to play down the possibility.

Originally published on doc.afp.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.