The European transport ministers revealed their differences on the issues of road charging on Tuesday 5 December in the course of a debate on the European Commission proposals from the first mobility package.
The discussions centred both on the proposal to revise the directive (1999/62/EC) on the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures and on the draft directive on the interoperability of electronic toll systems in the EU, both presented within the framework of the first mobility package on 31 May (see EUROPE 11799).
Differences of interpretation among the member states relate to specific national characteristics and do not seem to have anything to do with geography. For the moment, no majority has emerged.
Charging of heavy goods vehicles. Directive1999/62/EC refers only to heavy goods vehicles but the Commission is suggesting extending the scope of the text to include charging all vehicles, including buses, coaches and private cars, given that these vehicles also contribute to pollution and congestion.
This first point was opposed by most member states, including Poland, Hungary and United Kingdom. On the other hand, Luxembourg, Romania and Malta support this possibility.
One of the sensitive points of the proposal relates to the requirement, when a member state chooses to tax the use of road infrastructure, to bring an end to the time-based vignette system in favour of a toll system, based on distance and in line with the polluter pays principle.
Several member states, such as Germany and Austria, want countries to continue to be able to choose the type of charging applied. Italy and Croatia back the Commission proposal. While sharing this view, France feels nonetheless that distance-based charging is not appropriate for some vehicles.
Most member states also oppose the Commission proposal to reallocate part of the congestion revenues collected by public authorities to congestion reduction. They argue that it should be for the states to decide how these revenues are used. Italy and Luxembourg back the initial proposal.
Interoperability of toll systems. There was agreement on the principle among the member states on the proposal on interoperability of toll systems to ease the passage at toll gates and address infringements.
Some member states, however, expressed reservations or concerns at the effect on the technologies used at national level and urge that a degree of flexibility be allowed them in putting in place the interoperable systems.
Despite the many current differences on these issues, and diplomatic source told us that they are unlikely to be the most complicated in negotiations on the first mobility package. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)