12/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 6 October, the European Commission adopted a decision establishing the technical specifications and essential requirements of the European Electronic Toll Service (EETS). This system will allow the drivers of heavy goods vehicles subject to road tolls to pay these tolls throughout the EU with a single subscription contract, with one service provider and one single on-board unit. Effectively, the system is a response to the lack of interoperability between the electronic toll systems currently used on board vehicles, which are governed by national operators (by way of example, in order to get from Portugal to Denmark, five different sets of equipment are required, each with its own contract and service provider). The EETS system will be available within three years on all EU infrastructure (motorways, tunnels and bridges) where toll payments can be made, for all vehicles of 3.5 tonnes or above or which are authorised to carry more than nine passengers, including the driver. For other vehicles, it will be available within five years. The Commission's decision also defines the rights and obligations of toll chargers, service providers and users. (A.By./transl.fl)