Proposal to review the Eurovignette Directive and perspectives Meeting of the Social and Economic Committee on 25 November 2010 Rémi MAYET Direction générale de la mobilité et des transports Commission européenne 1
The EU Transport Policy New White Paper under preparation Eliminating barriers in in the internal market Developing and financing infrastructure Promoting transport innovation Cleaner and less congested roads More use of of rail rail and waterborne Safety and protection of of passengers 2
Why charging the use of infrastructure?.apply efficient pricing and give price signal to optimise the use of infrastructure.implement the polluter-pays principle, in other words internalise external costs.raise additional funds for transport through the userpays principle.apply it to all transport modes to create level playing field» Move from current transport taxes to more efficient and greener charges 3
Why the Union should be involved?.to prevent any discrimination on grounds of nationality.to protect the internal market by ensuring fair competition and avoiding obstacles at borders.to promote sustainable transport, that is cleaner (climate change), safer transport and with less congestion 4
European rules applicable on road charging.charging applied to cars must respect Article 18 of the TFUE on non-discrimination.electronic tolls must respect Directive 2004/52/EC ensuring interoperability of electronic toll as from 2012/2014.Charging of heavy goods vehicles must respect Directive 1999/62/EC (Eurovignette) 5
Current road charging of heavy goods vehicles in the Union 6
Road charging for heavy goods vehicles Infrastructure financing.current Directive: tolls (or vignettes) authorised if not exceeding infrastructure costs (or maximum rates) - user pays principle 7
Road charging for heavy goods vehicles Infrastructure financing Demand management.current Directive: tolls (or vignettes) authorised if not exceeding infrastructure costs (or maximum rates) - user pays principle.new Directive: permits charging pollution and higher differentiation of tolls during peak hours - polluter pays principle or internalisation of external costs 8
New Directive (still draft) Main changes.tolls may include costs of air and noise pollution (and not only of infrastructure).values to be defined according to a common method and below maximal values.variation of tolls during peak hours provided that it is revenue neutral.revenue to be used to finance projects which make transport more sustainable 9
New Directive (still draft) Very small impact on product prices if any +0.26% +0.34% +0.03% +0.14% Figures for a Euro IV Lorry between Rotterdam and Köln 10
Cost impact on Rotterdam - Köln Example of a corridor with relatively high external costs Length of the return trip: 483 km External cost charge per vkm: Mean: 5.3 -cent Min-Max: 4.2-8.8 -cent Total transport costs: 497 Total external cost charge: 26 (5% of total costs) Values for a Euro IV truck. Red and orange sections = congested sections morning peak (based on real time GPS/GSM traces) Composition of the external cost charge: Noise: 5% Air pollution: 78% Congestion: 16% 11
New Directive (still draft) Important benefits.fleet renewal.increased loading factor.re-optimised routing and scheduling.less harmful emissions.less congestion, increased reliability of delivery times.additional funds for investments in transport 12
New Directive (still draft) Some other figures.30.000 kilometres of European motorways are tolled.typical tolls for heavy goods vehicles range from 15 to 25 cents per kilometre (infrastructure costs).the new Directive would allow on average a toll increase of 3-4 cents per kilometre (external costs) 13
External costs treatment in inland transport Cost category Rail Road (Council position) Infrastructure Compulsory infrastructure charge for variable costs with full costs recovery possible in exceptional cases Optional toll or vignette Air pollution Optional mark-up if similar measures exist for other modes Noise Optional mark-up if similar measures exist for other modes Optional mark-up on tolls Optional mark-up on tolls Congestion/scarcity Optional mark-up No additional charge allowed but variation at constant revenue possible Climate change ETS (for electrified lines), fuel tax [1] Fuel tax [1] Excise duty is payable on the diesel used for power locomotives in most but not all EU Member States. 14
Perspectives.Climate change: energy taxation, ETS.Funding, congestion and local pollution: infrastructure charging.more harmonisation needed at European level needed to preserve the internal market and quality of service to infrastructure users 15
An illustration of the challenges ahead: keep global warming below 2 C 16
Thank you for your attention! Visit the DG MOVE website: http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road/index_en.htm 17