MEPS ARE IN FAVOUR OF CHARGEABLE EXTERNAL COSTS

The Transport Comittee of the European Parliament approved the proposed revision of the Eurovignette Directive, agreeing that charges on heavy-goods vehicles should be based in part on the air and noise pollution they produce and the congestion they cause.

The main political groups reached a consensus on what to tax and what not to tax: the ”chargeable external costs“ will include air and noise pollution and congestion, except for greenhouse gas emissions. The Eurovignette calculation method means that the overall extra cost for road users would only rise by approximately 3% if Member States choose to apply the charges, according to an impact study carried out by the Commission. In order to achieve this modest increase, heavy polluters (Euro 0) would pay more while eco-friendly lorries would pay little or no charges for air pollution. The same principle applies to the congestion charge: reduced rates would incite drivers to travel during off-peak times. The existing Eurovignette Directive only applies to roads which are part of the Trans-European Transport Network and to vehicles above 12 tonnes, but according to the new draft text voted by the Comittee, new rules would apply to all TEN roads and roads ”which customarily carry a significant volume of international goods transport“.