EU regulators keep tabs on Belgian road charging plan

Date: 22/09/05

The European Commission will be keeping a close eye on Belgian plans to impose obligatory EUR 25 permits for all car and lorry users wanting to use Belgian motorways and main roads.

"There is a Eurovignette being discussed at the moment that will lay down cross-border rules for heavy-goods vehicles and any move by the Belgian government to impose further tolls will have to be in conformity with that," said a transport spokeswoman.

But, she added, "so far we have only heard about the issue via the press and have not been formally notified of any action".

Last week Walloon Minister for Public Works Michel Daerden announced that the permit would take effect from 1 January 2006, prompting a debate in the various Belgian governments over its feasibility.

Walloon Prime Minister Jean-Claude Van Cauwenberghe said that the system would have to be imposed over all three Belgian regions - Wallonia, Flanders and Brussels - if it were to be acceptable.

Flemish Mobility Minister Kathleen Van Brempt also supports a Belgian-wide permit, but opposed Daerden's plans on the grounds that the Flemish would have to pay to support Walloon infrastructure.

Austria has a similar tax on heavy-goods vehicles using its roads, which has prompted complaints of discrimination from the Slovenian authorities to the Commission, as their hauliers need to use Austrian roads regularly for moving goods.

If the plan comes into effect, it will be a good money-spinner for the Belgian government as the Dutch, Scandinavians, British and Germans commonly use Belgian roads en route to other destinations.

But the Commission spokeswoman said that while the executive could act on behalf of heavy-goods vehicles, it has no competence to deal with tolls imposed on private vehicles.

Article reports on plans in Belgium to introduce obligatory €25 permits for all car and lorry users wanting to use Belgian motorways and main roads and concerns at the European Commission that this might clash with the planned Eurovignette that would lay down cross-border rules for heavy-goods vehicles on an EU-wide scale.