Brussels, 22/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - Following a public hearing, the Environment Council, gathered on Monday in Brussels, confirmed by qualified majority the agreement reached in conciliation with the European Parliament over the regulation relating to the interim ecopoints system applicable in 2004 to heavy goods vehicles transiting through Austria (see EUROPE of 19 December, p. 12, concerning the debate and vote in Parliament). Despite a powerful argument by the Austrian Minister for Transport, who came to explain to his colleagues the, economic and environmental failings of the compromise, Altero Matteoli, exiting President of the Council, stated to the cameras: I can confirm the result of conciliation, as there are no new arguments.
According to the Austrian Minster, the system does not deserve the name ecopoints as it will not prevent trucks from circulating and does not constitute a true incentive for the transfer from road to rail. The only positive element is that the eurozero will be banned, but this argument will fail, as this category of truck only represents 0.15% of the traffic to disappear, he states. Also adding: this proposal must be rejected as not only does it have no positive fallout ecologically speaking, but it will also be very expensive. Sold as a privilege to those living at sensitive crossing points, this proposal is a lure. Believing, contrary to the Council President, that the Council and Parliament did not listen to its arguments, Austria is attaching a declaration to the minutes of this session of the Environment Council detailing its arguments.