By Henrietta Billings - 10th March 2004
Hopes of reaching a deal over controversial road toll plans faded on Tuesday after a day of marathon talks ended with no agreement in sight.
"The views were very divergent," said Irish Transport Minister Seamus Brennan after the meeting. "We are all disappointed that we were not able to reach a final agreement."
Under the so-called 'Eurovignette' plans, Brussels wants to harmonise national toll and road charge systems for lorries using a 'polluter-pays' principle where drivers would pay for the infrastructure they use.
The Irish presidency had been hoping for a compromise deal but after a day of talks, governments remained deeply split over a number of issues.
The biggest sticking point was over part of the revenue from the road tolls which Brussels wants member states to re-invest in transport infrastructures that will alleviate bottlenecks and congestion.
However a hardcore of member states, namely Germany, UK, France, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, and Sweden remain steadfastly opposed, and are fiercely guarding their right to allocate financial resources as they see fit.
This approach is opposed by Brussels. "It destroys the balance on which the whole proposal is based," EU transport chief Loyola de Palacio told reporters. "It takes away from the fundamental objectives of the directive".
Negotiators will now attempt to thrash out agreement in a series of working group meetings ahead of the next council meeting in June.
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