MEPs back greener Road Tolls

Publication date: 17 March 2004

The Parliament Transport Committee adopted today the long-awaited report by Luigi Cocilovo on the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructure (COM(2003) 448 - COD(2003) 0175). The draft directive aims to reform the "Eurovignette" directive (1999/62/EC).

report_draft_cocilovo_tolls.pdf (200 KB)

MEPs have taken on board environmental concerns. They are in favour of greater price differentiation among the various kinds of lorries in order to better take into account vehicle emissions pollution. This is expected to provide an incentive to haulage contractors to use cleaner lorries.

As for the delicate question of allocating toll revenues - a question which alone almost prevented a political agreement in the Council of Ministers of March 9 - MEPs supported the position of the European Commission, which is to allot these revenues solely to the transport sector.

Next step:
The report is due to be adopted by the Parliament in April

Related News Items:
- Transport Council: No Agreement on Road Charging Directive (9 March 2004)
- Draft Road Charging Directive published (23 July 2003)