Brussels, 23/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - The parliamentary committee on transport (TRAN) has sent out a clear message to the European Commission, saying that work must be stepped up in order to develop an EU-wide electronic toll system. MEPs on the transport committee adopted, on Tuesday 23 April, the own-initiative report by Jim Higgins (EPP, Ireland) on this issue (35 votes to 5). They note that the directive aimed at interoperability of road toll systems (04/52/EC) has not been correctly applied by member states given that no standards have been developed and that incentives for operators have so far not had the desired results. “The directive has fallen flat on its face. We do not necessarily need a regulation, but it should be an option”, the rapporteur said with a view to improving the situation. However, initially, the Commission is likely to make sure the directive is better implemented. The resolution specifies that the fairest toll system would be based on distance covered, and not on a vignette-type system. (MD/transl.jl)