In her draft report on the revision of the 1999/62/EC directive, Christine Revault d’Allonnes Bonnefoy (S&D, France) puts forward some ambitious proposals on compliance with the "polluter pays" and "user pays" principles. This text therefore sets out to introduce greater requirements than the one presented by the European Commission on 31 May last in the first "mobility" package (see EUROPE 11799).
It should be recalled that in its proposal, the Commission suggested that the member states should no longer have the option of introducing or maintaining a road fee based on the time using infrastructure (similar to a vignette) and that it should be based on the distance travelled, similar to a motorway tollbooth system. This would not, however, make it compulsory for member states to introduce tollbooth systems but they would be obliged to put an end to the vignette system.
Ms Revault d’Allonnes Bonnefoy, the Parliament’s rapporteur, is, in this connection, more ambitious. She considers that a state that makes deductions based on use (vignette system) should, by 1 January 2024 at the latest, introduce compulsory infrastructure charges (similar to tolls) for heavy duty vehicles on the main Trans-European network road axes. The system applicable to vans used to transport merchandise and whose maximum weight is between 2.4 and 3.5 tonnes would also be aligned on the system applied to heavy duty vehicles.
Another major point in the text involves the fact that all vehicles, particularly passenger cars and motorcycles, will have to apply the provisions applicable to heavy duty vehicles previously mentioned as from 1 January 2026. This is despite the fact that in its proposal, the Commission explains that it would not make it compulsory on states to apply road tolls for passenger cars on roads where tolls only apply to heavy duty vehicles. This involves introducing a non-discriminatory system that applies across the board and also fully complies with the "user pays" system.
In view of taxing vehicles in a non-discriminatory way, the MEP is also suggesting that charges for external costs would be compulsory on all roads subject to tollbooth fees which would relate to air and noise pollution levels applicable on heavy duty vehicles (as from 2021) and other vehicles (as from 2026). This will comply with the "polluter pays" principle. The Commission had previously been looking at a charge for external costs on heavy duty vehicles alone. The rapporteur is also requesting that this kind of charge could be introduced on roads that are not covered by infrastructure charges, such as a congestion charge.
On secondary roads where traffic can be diverted from the trans-European a road network, it would be possible if the states so wish, to apply the above-mentioned provisions on infrastructure charges and for external costs.
Specific provisions for regular users and peripheral regions. Although the proposals appear quite ambitious on the environmental question, Ms Revault d’Allonnes Bonnefoy suggests leaving a certain amount of flexibility to the member states to be able to modulate when necessary and in specific cases, the way in which the provisions mentioned above are applied.
Therefore, passenger cars that are needed for travelling to work on a daily basis could enjoy possible reductions of up to 50%. The rapporteur is also proposing to allow member states to put in place “kilometre toll derogations" on roads that have been identified in the peripheral regions. This is in response to the concerns expressed by some of these regions in this connection.
Independent national authorities. Ms Revault d’Allonnes Bonnefoy is also suggesting the need for precise signposting information regarding the use of the revenues obtained from the different charges. She is calling for the transparent use of these charges, together with the information that will be provided to the users of the roads targeted, by way of appropriate signposts.
In an effort to effectively introduce these latter demands, the MEP calls for the introduction in every member state of an “independent supervisory authority for infrastructure charges", which already exists in some countries.
Finally, the report also refers to a “European land transport agency", which is sought by certain political forces on the left (see EUROPE 11791).
Sensitive discussions at the Council of the European Union. Nothing, however, can guarantee and that this draft report will come up with a definitive text by the end of the current mandate because the discussions are currently stalling at the Council (see EUROPE 11919). (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)