Brussels, 17/12/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, permanent representatives from Member States reached a compromise on the "ecopoints" road transit system through Austria, which could be adopted by majority qualified voting. Acting on the request of Italy, the Special Transport Council has been called for 31 December for adopting the decision. Member States have up to today, Wednesday at 15H to confirm their position, indicated the Danish Presidency. Austria supports a compromise; Italy is strongly opposed, refusing a reduction in the number of road transports rights through Austria. The Netherlands, Greece and Belgium still have some reservations.
Under pressure from the Austrians, which threatened to block the conclusion of the enlargement negotiations, the European Summit of Copenhagen requested the Council to adopt "before the end of this year, a regulation on a temporary solution to the problem of heavy duty lorry transit through Austria for the period 2004-2006".
Linking this issue to that of access tolls for use of road infrastructure, the European Council will have to present a proposal on the new "Eurovignette" Directive by the end of the first half of 2003 at the latest.
The compromise that is envisaged, would see the ecopoints system provisionally extended in 2004, 2005 and 2006, as long as the Council does not adopt a decision on infrastructure tariffs. The number of ecopoints available for transit will be reduced in 2005 and 2006 with the introduction of less polluting lorries, which responds to Euro 4, which can travel freely, without quotas in Austria. If these Euro 4 lorries are not introduced, the number of ecopoints will be 9.4 million every year. If they are introduced, the number of ecopoints will be 9.42 million in 2004, 8.95 million in 2005 and 8.24 million in 2006.
The Council is expected to adopt a declaration demonstrating Austria's intention to construct a new Brenner tunnel in 2012 (instead of 2021) and points out that at the beginning of 2003, it will present its proposal on the Eurovignettes. It is also committed to sharing ecopoints among the Member States during a transition period in October of each year at the latest, in keeping with the method defined in the regulation.