Call for a Council Position on the Eurovignette Directive
CLECAT, alongside European truck makers and green groups, have written to EU Transport Ministers, urging them to agree on a common position with respect to the long-delayed reform of European truck tolling framework.
A revision of the Eurovignette Directive, proposed under the Mobility Package I back in 2017, is designed to help cut CO2 emissions from new trucks. The Eurovignette reform is a key tool in boosting investment in low- and zero-emission trucks and it would also help EU countries and industry reach the European Green Deal climate targets.
In June this year, the Croatian Presidency could not secure the Council’s support for its compromise proposal, pushing the file to the German Presidency. The final draft of the Croatian Presidency is however very progressive. In particular, the provision under which new regulated trucks would in the future be tolled/charged based on CO2 is transformative and, once passed, would play a vital role in reducing CO2 emissions from new trucks.
The call follows the Germany Presidency’s decision not to include the issue in the agenda of the videoconference of EU Transport Council, which is scheduled to take place on 28 September. The letter says that removing the toll reform from the Council agenda is “extremely concerning” and calls for a general approach of the Council to be agreed “without any further delay”, i.e. by December 2020.
The
full letter can be found attached below.