Tag: road charging

An EU compromise agreement on green road tolls for trucks was denounced by the freight sector as a mere additional tax that will increase the final price of goods. Meanwhile, the Greens criticised the deal for making too many concessions to business interests.

Amid opposition from centre-right MEPs, the European Parliament yesterday (11 March) backed the EU executive in its call to allow national governments to charge heavy goods vehicles for the noise they make and the environmental pollution and congestion they cause.

A vote on the revision of the Eurovignette directive in the European Parliament's transport committee tomorrow (11 February) is expected to relaunch negotiations between the bloc's 27 member states over the controversial issue of environmental charging for trucks. But serious progress is not expected before the autumn, when the next Parliament takes office. 

The Czech EU Presidency has identified striking a deal on 'green charges' for trucks as one of its key priorities for the coming months. Meanwhile, member states remain divided over the issue, and industry stakeholders have joined forces to denounce the "incorrect" assumption that merely increasing costs will lead to more sustainable transport.

After Rome, London, Edinburgh and Oslo, Stockholm could be the latest city to introduce road tolls around the city centre in view of limiting traffic. 

The new EU transport policy risks undermining other commitments made on public health protection, energy and climate change, a group of environmental NGOs has warned.

The Parliament has sealed a compromise with EU states to harmonise the way truck tolls can be levied on European roads. The bill seeks to take greater account of the environmental and social impacts of heavy road freight.

A ministerial agreement on the Eurovignette proposal to reduce road congestion and encourage alternative transport modes is being criticised for allowing member states too much flexibility on how to use the money.

Seven transport Ministers disagree with the Commission that revenues raised from road tolls should solely be used for improving transport infrastructure and the environment.

The European Federation for Transport and Environment claims that the proposed framework on road charging must better reflect the costs of emissions, road damage, noise disturbance and accidents.

Transport Ministers expressed willingness to progress quickly on two key draft directives for the road sector in the EU - infrastructure charging and the interoperability of electronic toll collection systems.

On 26 August, the German government and the Commission found a compromise on the new German road toll system for trucks.

On 23 April, the Commission adopted a Communication on new financial instruments for the Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T) as well as a draft Directive on electronic road charging systems. Contrary to previous drafts, the final text does not entail any reference to the principles of an EU-wide infrastructure charging system.

On 17 February 2003, high level representatives of the rail, automotive and aviation sectors as well as the Commission discussed the concept of "sustainable mobility" with regard to current trends in EU transport policy.