Plan to make road freight fees reflect true costs

Date: 22/02/1996

TRANSPORT Commissioner Neil Kinnock is proposing to change the system of road charges for commercial vehicles to reflect the true costs of transporting freight by road more clearly.

Kinnock is preparing to increase the cost of the 'Eurovignette' from 1,250 ecu per annum to 2,250, according to senior Commission officials.

He will also allow member states to introduce a supplementary charge - a maximum of 1,500 ecu - for 'sensitive' road corridors, where infrastructure costs are especially high or where there are particular environmental concerns.

Under Kinnock's plan, member states would have the option of introducing a 'per kilometre' toll charge to take account of environmental, accident and congestion costs, as an alternative to the special supplement.

Charges will also take account of the lorry class being used, with a 10&percent; cut in charges for 'Euro-one' trucks - those in use since 1993 and using cleaner technology. 'Euro-two' trucks - those in service from this year - will enjoy a 20&percent; reduction.

Member states making use of the Eurovignette are the Benelux countries, Germany and Denmark.

Kinnock is also set to announce a proposal to extend the Programme Action for Combined Transport for a further five years, raise the budget from 5 to 40 million ecu, and add maritime transport and links with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe to its remit.

Kinnock's initiative is a further attempt to achieve a closer link between charges levied and actual road use. But it was also made necessary by last year's European Court of Justice ruling annulling the existing Eurovignette directive on a technicality.

Officials stress that the Commission is determined to resist pressure from the German government to treble the current cost of the Eurovignette.

Kinnock has also written to the Austrian government informing it that planned increases in tolls at the Brenner Pass bear no relation to actual infrastructure costs and warning that Vienna could face legal action.

The Commission estimates that toll income at the Brenner Pass in 1995 will exceed infrastructure costs by more than three times.