On Wednesday 17 May, the European Commission decided to conclude the infringement procedure initiated against Germany over its project to introduce a motorway vignette.
In March, Germany adopted the measures the Commission had requested and the latter believes the initiative no longer discriminates against Union nationals on the basis of nationality. The Commission, however, adds that it will continue to monitor implementation of the decisions taken by the German authorities.
It should be recalled that the Commission and German state had reached an agreement at the beginning of December, to drastically reduce the price of the short stay vignette, which affects the great majority of non-residents (see EUROPE 11680). The Commission was, however, awaiting adoption of the measures in question by Germany, before bringing the infringement procedure to an end.
The project, however, still includes a tax rebate for German citizens, an issue which provoked such robust opposition from the MEPs (see EUROPE 11746). The Austrian government went even further and at the end of March announced that it is intended to file a complaint at the European Court of Justice for breaching article 18 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which prohibits any discrimination based on nationality (see EUROPE 11760). (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)