On the European level, Directive 99/62/EC, as modified by Directive 2006/38/EC sets common rules on distance-related tolls and time-based user charges for goods vehicles (above 3,5 tonnes) for the use of certain infrastructure (EC, 2007b).
The Directive:
• regulates the functioning of the internal market through the approximation of the conditions of competition in the transport sector by reducing the differences in the levels and in the systems of tolls and user charges applicable in member states of the European Union.
• takes account of the principles of fair and efficient pricing in transport by providing for greater differentiation of tolls and charges in line with costs associated with the road use
The Directive lays down certain rules to be followed by member states if they wish to have tolls and/or user charges. The most important of these framework conditions are: • Tolls shall be levied according to the distance travelled and the type of vehicle; user
charges are scaled according to the duration of the use made of the infrastructure and to vehicles emission classes.
• Both tolls and user charges can only be imposed on users of motorways or multi-lane roads similar to motorways as well as on users of bridges, tunnels and mountain passes.
• The directive does not permit to impose a toll and a user charge at the same time. However, tolls can be levied on networks where user charges are already imposed for the use of bridges, tunnels and mountain passes.
• National tolls and charges should not be discriminatory and should be set out in such a way to cause as little hindrance as possible to the free flow of traffic as well as to avoid mandatory checks at the internal borders. It is to be noted that at national level specific taxes or charges for the registration of the vehicle or for its abnormal weights/dimension can be imposed and all needed measures to combat road traffic congestion can be adopted.
The Directive fixes:
• a maximum level for user charges in accordance with the given period and with the environmental performance of the vehicle as follows:
Table 14. Maximum level of annual charge until 09/06/2008
Class Up to 3 axles 4 axles or more
pre Euro € 960 € 1550
Euro 1 € 850 € 1400
Euro 2 € 750 € 1250
Monthly and weekly charges are proportionate to the duration of the use of the infrastructure. The daily charge is € 8 for all vehicle categories.
Not later than 10 June 2008 the thresholds (in €) will be according to the following table, while the daily charge is 11 € for all vehicle categories.
Table 15. Maximum level of annual charge as from 10/06/2008
Class Up to 3 axles 4 axles or more
pre Euro € 1332 € 2233
Euro 1 € 1158 € 1933
Euro 2 € 1008 € 1681
Euro 3 € 876 € 1461
Euro 4 and less polluting € 797 € 1329
• the maximum weighted average tolls by requiring that tolls are set in relation to the costs of constructing, operating and developing the infrastructure concerned. Member states may vary the toll rates according to vehicle emission classes and the time of the
Although the application of tolls and user charges is not mandatory for member states, all framework conditions set out in the directive should be fulfilled in case of their opting for levying such charges.
Eurovignette
A specific provision of the directive allows member states to co-operate for the purpose of introducing a common system of user charges. In this respect Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden have a common system of user charges for heavy goods vehicles above 12 tonnes called the ‘Eurovignette’ system. According to this system the payment of a specified amount grants conveyers the right to use motorways of the participating member states for a given period (i.e. a day, a week, a month or a year). This regulation is applicable on domestic and foreign conveyers.
Each participating country is responsible for all aspects related to the payment of the Eurovignette on its own territory.
The cost of the Eurovignette corresponds with the amounts listed in Table 15 (FOD Financiën, 2007).
Road Charging Interoperability
Currently in Europe, different road charging systems are being operated by professional companies making use of different technologies. Despite the fact that current road charging schemes are successful, a public standard is needed for interoperable road charging solutions that work all over Europe, as demanded by the EC. Interoperability of road charging solutions is a long-term objective of the EC. In April 2004, the directive 2004/52/EC of the European Parliament and Council on the interoperability of electronic road toll systems in the Community was adopted. The Directive places constraints on the technologies that may be used in future new road charging systems:
• Satellite positioning
• Mobile communications using the GSM-GPRS standard • 5,8 GHz microwave technology
The new road charging service that is interoperable throughout Europe on the basis of one or more of the mentioned technologies is called the European Electronic Tolling Service (EETS). In a summary this directive describes the following (RCI, 2007):
• Operators and Member States are obliged to accept interoperable On Board Equipment (OBE) that are compliant with the EETS;
• Operators are obliged to provide this service and OBE to end users;
• The end user can make use of this service and onboard equipment on a voluntary basis.
The EC envisages a final definition of the EETS service by 2007 (one year delay with respect to the original directive) and deployment of the service for heavy good vehicles by 2009 and for private vehicles by 2011.
The three-year Road Charging Interoperability (RCI) project, which is partially funded by the DG Energy and Transport of the European Commission, started on 29 June 2005. The main objective of the RCI project was to develop an open and integrated framework enabling road charging interoperability at a technical level, based on the key existing and planned road charging deployments in Europe (RCI, 2007). The 26 partners in the RCI- project recently agreed on the architecture and specifications to be applied for European interoperable tolling. It is in line with the Directive 2004/52/EC, which can be summarized as one contract and one on-board equipment (OBE) that can be used in every tolling system used within the European Union. On the 28th of February 2007, the European Commission endorsed the RCI architecture for European tolling. The approved architecture will be the basis for all existing and future European road charging systems that need to comply with Directive 2004/52/EC.
5.1.2. Germany Motorway Toll