EU transport ministers gather in Luxembourg next Thursday for talks set to focus on controversial road toll proposals.
The Dutch will be hoping to make headway over the so-called 'Eurovignette' plans that derailed in June despite marathon attempts by the then Irish presidency to break the deadlock.
Under the proposals, Brussels wants to align national toll and road charge systems for lorries using a 'polluter-pays' principle where drivers would pay for the infrastructure they use.
But the outstanding issue on this dossier remains the earmarking of revenue collected from the tolls - and with 25 EU capitals split roughly fifty- fifty on the issue it has been impossible to reach an agreement.
Further progress is also needed on the mark up of tolls for trucks travelling through environmentally sensitive and urban areas.
EU ministers will debate a compromise put forward by the Dutch in the hope of finding a qualified majority.
Proposals on river information services are also on the agenda. The plans for an electronic communication system for inland shipping are -according to EU officials - expected to receive broad backing from member states.
An agreement is also expected on plans for a harmonised driving licence.
An EU wide plastic credit card sized permit is due to be introduced in 2010, and although there is still "a lot of work to do" on this 100 page proposal, EU officials expect that a an agreement is possible.
Remaining details that need to be thrashed out include agreeing on an EU wide age for different types of driving licences, like cars, motorbikes and coaches and also harmonising of different categories of vehicle across member states.
Finally on rail issues, a progress report on driving licences for cross border train drivers - one aspect of the third railway package - will be discussed by EU ministers.
The Dutch have dodged the most sensitive aspect of this proposal - compensation for delayed rail passengers by leaving it off the agenda.
Similarly the weekend and bank holiday lorry ban proposals will not be discussed. The aim of that proposal - on the table for the last seven years - is to harmonise the current patchwork of restrictions across Europe that makes it difficult for hauliers to plan their trips.
The Dutch are not hopeful of making any progress on this dossier this month after the Irish failed in June.
A blocking minority made up of Germany, Austria, UK, France, Slovenia, Malta, Luxembourg has halted proceedings.
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