More and more cities in Europe are trying to impose restrictions
on highly contaminating vehicles. However, it is difficult to
enforce these measures as long as these vehicles continue to
cross through cities without any restriction.
Today, the European Parliament found an agreement with the
European Council on updated electronic road tolling rules
whichwould ensure that all road users pay their tolls, wherever
they are in the EU. As supported by the S&D Group, the
updated Directive extends the European exchange of information
framework to cities who have put in place fees for Clean Air
Zones. The European Commission should also come up with an
assessment to ensure future extension of the scope to all
low-emission zones and further measures to facilitate mutual
assistance agreements between member states.
This is part of a legislative proposal to improve the
interoperability between different national electronic road toll
systems and to facilitate the exchange of information on those
drivers who fail to pay the road fee in another European country.
S&D spokesperson on this file, Olga Sehnalová MEP, said:
"The Directive which has been successfully approved today, will
allow the deployment of a European electronic toll service
(EETS). In the near future, this will enable drivers to use only
one on-board equipment across the European road network.
Furthermore, up to now, member states were not able to enforce
unpaid road fees by foreign drivers. Thanks to the changes made
in the Directive and approved today, this will also change with
the development of a strong cross-border exchange of information
framework."
S&D vice-president for sustainability, Kathleen Van Brempt,
said
“Air quality in cities is a big concern for our citizens.
Annually, around half a million people die prematurely in the
European Union due to air pollution and thousands suffer
respiratory diseases, often the most vulnerable. Cities trying to
cope with this through the establishment of Clean Air Zones,
where vehicles must pay access fees in relation to their
pollution level, have been facing huge difficulties to charge
foreign vehicles because there was no legal base for cross-border
data exchange. By extending the scope of the Directive from road
charging fees to fees for entering Clean Air Zones by polluting
cars, this problem will be solved and the enforcement of Clean
Air access regulations will be ensured."
