MEPs on the European Parliament’s transport and tourism committee again criticised the German motorway vignette project and its discriminatory implications.
In a resolution submitted by Karima Delli (Greens/EFA, France) and adopted on Tuesday 28 February with 34 votes in favour, 9 against, and 3 abstentions, MEPs on the committee called on the European Commission to clarify all the legal aspects that could be relevant for explaining the reasons why the infringement procedure against Germany was suspended last December (see EUROPE 11680). They also urged the Commission to keep Parliament informed throughout the different stages of the procedure by organising a structured dialogue. MEPs also called for a review of the Eurovignette as soon as possible. This is planned for the end of May (see EUROPE 11726).
Germany would like to introduce a motorway vignette system to fund its infrastructure. Both Parliament and the Council of the EU said that this project did not comply with the article 18 of the TFEU, which bans any discrimination based on nationality. The Commission took the matter to the European Court of Justice in September 2016 (see EUROPE 11635), before suspending the procedure following an agreement between the Commission and German government (see EUROPE 11680). The agreement and suspension of the infringement procedure was strongly criticised by MEPs who subjected the Commissioner for Transport, Violeta Bulc, to a high level of barracking during the most recent plenary session (see EUROPE 11728).
Second resolution on road transport. Parliament's transport and tourism committee also adopted a second resolution in the follow-up (with 33 votes in favour, 5 against and 7 abstentions) on road transport in the EU. This repeats the necessity of developing a non-discriminatory road tariff system. As part of the proposal on the Eurovignette, MEPs are proposing a tariff system based on distance, time and transport sustainability. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)