26/07/2005 (Agence Europe) - The request for exoneration from the axle tax for vehicles which travel infrequently on public roads in France and which are not carrying any goods was approved by the European Commission on 20 June 2005, and runs until 31 December 2009. The decision relates mainly to mobile cranes, for which the French national union of crane users and associated industries (SNUG) was particularly active in its representations to the relevant French ministries (transport and economy). In line with directive 1999/62/EC on the taxation of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain sections of infrastructure, motor vehicles of 12 tonnes or more, which are registered in a Member State and used exclusively for the transport of equipment as part of public and industrial work, may be subject to reduced tax or to an exoneration, as long as the transport they carry out does not cause any competition distortion. This decision was a relief for crane users and the lifting and handling industries, whose material is classified, and thus taxed, as goods transport vehicles. It was published in the Official Journal of the EU number L 158 of 21 June 2005.