Brussels, 10/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament and Council will begin attempts to reach an agreement in a second reading on the draft revised Eurovignette directive (draft directive on taxing heavy-duty vehicles that use certain transport infrastructure). The first meeting in informal dialogue, between member states represented by the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU and MEPs, is expected to take place on Wednesday 10 November. No decision on fundamental issues involved in this question is expected.
The meeting, above all, is expected to help set out a timetable for talks and establish what the most difficult points in the dossier are. On Tuesday 9 November during a dinner-debate organised by the Mobility for Prosperity in Europe movement created by Ari Vatanen (EPP, Finland), the rapporteur on the subject, Saïd El Khadraoui (S&D, Belgium), affirmed that he would defend the Parliament's position (EUROPE 9838). The following points are being highlighted: - the charge relating to the cost of congestion, which the Parliament would like to see as a separate charge, whilst the Council would prefer the cost of traffic jams to be paid through infrastructure charges (EUROPE 10237). The Parliament would also like the congestion charge to be extended to all vehicles, which will be impossible if the Council position is put forward: - the allocation of income from charges for external costs (noise and air pollution) which, unlike the Council, Parliament would like to redistribute to activities that make road transport more ecological (renewing of vehicle fleet, investment in noise reduction barriers and technological innovation, etc).
The three main road transport organisations (ASECAP, the European Association for motorways, tolls and tunnels, ERF for the European road sector, and the IRU for the international transport sector) reached a common position on the internalisation of external costs. Meeting for the first time on Tuesday 9 November, these organisations consider that: - the taxation of road users should guarantee a fair toll charge which penalises bad habits; - the introduction of the tax for road use should be accompanied by the abolition of other taxes (fuel and vehicle taxes); - the income from road charges should be allocated to the road sector in the form of additional investment or research funds for developing cleaner vehicles and infrastructure. (A.By./transl.fl)