Press Release: Ecopoints: Commission decides not to apply the 108% clause due to insufficient evidence

The European Commission decided on 25 July 2001 that it will not apply a cutback in ecopoints for the year 2001 as a result of the number of lorry trips made through Austria in 2000, the so-called '108% clause'. Whilst initial statistics from Austria seemed to indicate that the number of trips by EU lorries through Austria did exceed the 108% threshold in 2000, further examination of the statistics cast doubt on this, as in numerous cases there was no evidence of the reality of the transit. The Commission agreed that under legal terms it is the responsibility of Austria to provide clear and unambiguous statistics proving that the transits really took place. Thus, the Commission will distribute the remaining ecopoints for 2001.