Eurovignette: Get freight off the road and on the railways - 2009-03-11

Labour Euro MPs have welcomed a decision by the European Parliament to introduce flexibility into a new road charging report.

The proposal would allow Member States to decide whether or not they wished to introduce a road charging scheme known as Eurovignette. This scheme is allowing transit countries to press on with road charges for pollution, congestion and infrastructure damage if they so wish.

Brian Simpson MEP, Labour's Transport Spokesperson in the European Parliament, said: "There is no doubt that road transport does cause pollution and there is a strong belief amongst environmentalists that road haulage should pay more towards the cost of their infrastructure as well as contributing to improving the environment."

The Commission proposal would introduce a possible charge on Heavy Goods Vehicles in all Member States in an attempt to internalise external costs. However, Labour MEPs have made sure the decision to introduce charges is left entirely up to individual Member States.

Brian Simpson MEP commented: "Major transit countries want the power to levy charges on road users because of the damage that road transport does to their countries infrastructure. However, peripheral countries have a different view. The flexibility shown in what in reality is a compromise agreement is to be welcomed and leaves the decision to national governments."

"This legislation gives us a sensible framework that Member States must follow if they want to introduce road tolls while at the same time this gives us a valuable tool in addressing the environmental problems caused by road haulage" added Mr Simpson.

For more information please call the European Parliamentary Labour Party press officer, Silke Thomson on +32 479 790 053.

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