With a hefty majority, the European Parliament voted against the introduction of German road tolls. 510 members voted against, against 126 votes in favour of the introduction.
According to the parliament, the German toll discriminates on the basis of nationality. The plan provides for road vignettes that are cheaper for clean cars than for dirtier ones. As compensation, German road users will receive discounts on road taxes that are higher the more environmentally friendly a car is. "Foreign road users thus pay the deficits in German road tax," argues MEP Wim van de Camp (CDA).
Van de Camp, along with colleague Jeroen Lenaers, also fears the negative impact on border regions. 'The German bill is contrary to the idea of a European internal market,' Lenaers said. Together with Austria, the Netherlands has announced legal action if the plan does go ahead.
Objection procedure
In September, Brussels indicated it would refer the toll plan to the European Court of Justice over concerns about the fairness of the plan. In November, EU commissioner Violeta Bulc (transport) suddenly struck a deal with German transport minister Alexander Dobrindt and the procedure was suspended.
According to Van de Camp and Lenaers, it is necessary for the European Commission to restart the objection procedure against this law. "We don't want to wait for a European judge in a few years' time to consign the law to the dustbin. Prevention is better than cure."
