10/11/2003 (Agence Europe) - The International Road Transport Union (IRU) states in a press release its regret that the Commission proposal with a view to modifying the infrastructure pricing for heavy goods vehicles ("vignette") does not contain any "safeguard aimed to prevent Member States from imposing new levies linked to the distance in addition to the existing fees and taxes". If the tax charges imposed on operators is increased, the cost of transport will increase, the IRU warns, noting that: "if receipts generated by heavy vehicles are used to finance a non-road infrastructure instead of improving roads, the effectiveness of road transport could be reduced" when "road transport is the only viable option for most goods transport". Furthermore the IRU General Assembly has re-elected Paul Laeremans as its president and Francesco Pacifico as its vice-president. Janusz Lacny has also been elected vice-president.