On Friday, 27 November, the German Presidency of the Council of the EU sent Member States’ permanent representatives (Coreper) a note—a copy of which was obtained by EUROPE—detailing a few further minor changes to the draft compromise text on the revision of the directive on the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures.
These modifications concern, firstly, the optional exemption from tolls for vehicles that have a maximum laden mass between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes and that are carrying out transport operations for microenterprises, small enterprises, or medium-sized enterprises.
This provision had been introduced by Berlin in its first draft compromise text (see EUROPE 12601/10) and somewhat adjusted in a second phase (see EUROPE 12608/20).
The Presidency is now proposing that tax reductions or exemptions be granted to vehicles that weigh between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes and that are “used for carrying materials, equipment or machinery for the driver’s use in the course of the driver’s work, or for delivering goods which are produced on a craft basis”, provided that the transport is always carried out on own account. Moreover, the note emphasises the optional nature of the provision.
Adjustments were furthermore suggested regarding the implementation of an increase in the infrastructure charge levied in areas of heavy congestion. This provision had also been reworked in the two previous texts (see EUROPE 12601/10 and 12608/20).
In the current draft, Berlin is still proposing to give several Member States the option to apply a mark-up on the same regularly congested road section. According to the new version, all Member States that are part of this corridor as well as Member States that share a border with the territories that have a section of the corridor in question will have to reach an agreement and stick to a mark-up of more than 25%, but not exceeding 50%, of the infrastructure charge.
An agreement in December?
These two provisions will thus still need “to be addressed further” according to the note. They are not, however, the heart of the EU Council’s proposal and are not expected to trigger too much resistance.
As for the rest of the text, “it appears that [it] is overall welcomed”, notes the German Presidency of the Council of the EU, which hopes, together with several other [Member] States, that an agreement can be reached in the EU Council before the end of the month.
The EU27 will take a decision on the new adjustments on Tuesday, 8 December, during a policy debate on the Eurovignette that the Presidency intends to organise during the next videoconference of transport ministers.
“The outcome of the debate”—the holding of which still has to be approved by Coreper on Friday, 4 December—“will guide the Presidency for further work on its compromise proposal that will be submitted to the Committee of Permanent Representatives as a draft negotiating mandate”, Berlin stated in conclusion. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)