Germany Reaches Breakthrough on Passenger Vehicle Road Tolls
After nearly two years of negotiation and regulatory proceedings, Germany and the European Commission have reached a breakthrough agreement on road tolling for passenger vehicles.
Until now, tolling in Germany has been limited to trucks, explains IBTTA President-Elect Emanuela Stocchi. But under a compromise agreement reached earlier this month by EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc and German Transport and Digital Infrastructure Minister Alexander Dobrindt, foreign drivers passing through Germany will pay an annual fee of €2.50—half the amount that was originally proposed—while German nationals will recieve a reduction of the annual vehicles circulation tax if they drive environmentally friendly vehicles.
“It’s clearly a political compromise,” Stocchi writes. “and the EC has for the time being suspended its infringement procedure until the related German legislation will be effectively modified, but it means they’ve reached an agreement that is suitable for both parties.”
A Win for All
The deal “upholds the fundamental right of European citizens not to be discriminated against on the basis of their nationality. It will also ensure that road infrastructure is financed in a fairer way and will help the transition to low-emission mobility,” the European Commission stated in a December 1 release.
“Once adopted, these amendments will remove any discrimination based on nationality and incentivize the use of environmentally friendly cars. As a result, German motorways will remain easily accessible to all European citizens, and especially cross-border commuters.”
Bulc said the new rules “will ensure that the German car toll system is in line with EU legislation.”
Dobrindt described the system as “fair and just”, ensuring “that all drivers contribute adequately to the financing of our motorways. With infrastructure charges, we will strengthen the user-pay principle and facilitate the transition from infrastructure financing through taxes to financing through road charges.”
A Signal for All of Europe
Bulc cast the agreement with Germany as “an important first step towards our plans to create an EU-wide road charging system.” Dobrindt agreed that the pact sends “an important signal for Europe as a whole. Germany welcomes the European Commission's objective to create a single European legal framework for a single European road charging system."
The announcement means the EC will put enforcement action against Germany on hold, and fully rescind its infringement procedure once legislators approve the deal.
IBTTA is where the global tolling industry gathers! It isn’t too soon to mark your calendar and start planning your trip to Rome, Italy for the association’s next international summit October 15-17, 2017.