Vignettes and Tolls (Directive)
The EU Commission wants to harmonise road-use charges in the EU. In cep’s view, extending the scope of the Road Charging Directive could prevent distortions of competition. The proposed rules on the imposition of road-use charges for cars are, however, in breach of the principle of subsidiarity.
cepPolicyBrief
cep also views the blanket abolition of vignette charges by the EU as unjustified because the advantages and disadvantages of toll and vignette charges depend on their design. In addition, the current staggering of infrastructure charges for heavy duty vehicles according to EURO pollutant classes should not be abolished because it results in a vehicle fleet with lower emissions. Alternatively, instead of staggering road-use charges according to CO2, climate protection can be more effectively achieved by way of emissions trading.
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