By Martin Banks - 31st May 2011
We have reached what I regard as a reasonable and balance deal
Said El Khadraoi
Belgian MEP Saïd El Khadraoui says that EU plans to charge HGVs for environmental and road costs will move a step closer next week when parliament votes on rules agreed with the commission.
The S&D member said that, if passed, the eurovignette directive could become law this autumn.
Addressing a major transport conference in Brussels, he said that member state participation is voluntary but could become mandatory in four years, after a commission review.
Under the draft legislation, tolls will be charged on highways and major routes.
Members will have the option of setting distance-based tolls at 3-5 cents per vehicle km, in addition to infrastructure and pollution charges.
Exemptions will be allowed for lorries between 3.5 tonnes and 12 tonnes if the member state can give a justification. Cleaner vehicles will be encouraged by a two-year exemption for those that meet 'euro-5' and 'euro-6' standards.
Speaking on Monday, Khadraoui said that parliament had thrashed out a compromise with the commission and member states on the directive which paves the way for a vote on the draft law during next week's Strasbourg plenary.
Khadraoui, who is parliament's rapporteur on the Eurovignette, said concessions had been made in order to reach an agreement.
"I am happy to report that we have reached what I regard as a reasonable and balance deal which will go to plenary next week."
He said, "We all need to find a way of running our road transport systems more effectively and efficiently."
He cautioned that failure to tackle road congestion issues would result in the volume of freight traffic on Europe's roads and motorways rocketing by 80 per cent by 2050. Road passenger transport would increase by 50 per cent by the middle of the millennium, he said.
"Road transport will remain very important, but the industry needs to accept the role other modes of transport have to play.
"If we are going to have a more sustainable transport system we need a mix of measures, including more investment in R&D and a review of pricing."
He was speaking at a conference organised by ASECAP, the European association of toll road infrastructures operators.
