Germany wants LGVs to pay tolls throughout the EU

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The German Minister of Transport proposes that road tolls be imposed in the European Union on trucks over 3.5 tonnes. During the German Presidency of the Council of the European Union, an amendment to the Eurovignette Directive is to be adopted, and such provisions shall appear in it.

Andreas Scheuer, the German Minister of Transport, wants the road toll that is to be imposed by the new EU directive to cover light goods vehicles. According to the proposal of the German Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI), which was revealed by Reuters on Sunday, the toll would have to be paid also for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes.

As a reminder, Germany took over the Presidency of the EU Council at the beginning of July this year, and the amendment of the Eurovignette Directive is to be adopted in the coming months. Hence the proposal by the German Ministry, which is intended to launch a debate on road tolls in the EU.

According to the German Minister of Transport, the toll could be 50% higher in particularly congested areas, if the Member States concerned agree. This could apply, for example, to the Brenner Pass, provided that Italy and Austria agree. Scheuer’s main argument is the need to adapt road tolls to CO2 emissions.

If the German Minister of Transport succeeds in pushing through this proposal, many operators with LGV fleets will have to face much higher operating costs, including in Germany, where road tolls are currently levied on vehicles from 7.5 tonnes.

Photo credit @ Toll Collect

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