Brussels, 26/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - At the meeting of the joint committee on the EU-Switzerland agreement on inland transport, which took place in Brussels on Wednesday 22 June, the Commission and Swiss delegations agreed an 11% increase in the heavy vehicle fee (HVF), in line with Article 40 of the agreement on inland transport. From 1 January 2008, the weighted average value (calculated for an “average” 40 tonne lorry on a 300 kilometre journey) will rise from the current 292.50 Swiss francs (€176) to 325 Swiss francs (€196).
This decision falls within the framework of the policy of shifting traffic from road to rail, which seems to be bearing fruit in Switzerland, and which is being closely monitored by the Commission. According to the Committee, there has been a 16% fall in the volume of lorries passing through the Alps between 2000 and 2006, with 1.18 million heavy goods vehicles in 2006, while, over the same period, rail transport increased by 66%. (aby)