European Commission welcomes provisional agreement on EU road charging rules

The European Commission welcomes this morning’s provisional agreement between the co-legislators on new road charging rules (Eurovignette Directive). The revised rules introduce CO2 emission-based tolling for heavy-duty vehicles across the EU, a key pillar of the EU’s commitment to reaching climate neutrality by 2050 and its Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy. Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean said: “Alongside emission standards, digitalisation and alternative fuels, road charging will help us reduce emissions from transport. This agreement is an important step in that direction and it clearly demonstrates that the EU is serious about putting the ‘polluter pays’ principle into practice.”  The current rules cover lorries over 3.5 tonnes. The provisional agreement extends the scope to all heavy and light vehicles and foresees more proportionate road charges for cars, too. Future charges for lorries and buses will address CO2, as well as pollutant emissions, and the revised Directive will also introduce the option to charge for congestion and charge more for travel in sensitive areas, with revenues from those additional charges used for the benefit of sustainable transport. The Commission tabled its proposal for the revised Eurovignette Directive on 31 May 2017. Once the provisional agreement is formally approved by Parliament and Council, the Directive will enter into force on the 20th day after its publication.