PARLIAMENT ENDORSES TRILOGUE AGREEMENT ON EUROVIGNETTE DIRECTIVE
The European Parliament’s Transport Committee (TRAN) approved on 2 September the provisional agreement reached with the Council before the summer on the revision of the Eurovignette Directive. The compromise was adopted by 30 votes in favour, five against and four abstentions. EU Member States had already endorsed the agreement unanimously through Coreper on 15 July.
The agreement allows Member States to grant toll reductions of up to 75% to low-emission heavy-duty vehicles until 30 June 2031. Thereafter, the maximum reduction will be limited to 50%. This option will only apply where greater reductions are already available for zero-emission trucks.
The institutions did not retain the proposed toll reductions for vehicles using trailers with better environmental performance. The Council had raised concerns about administrative burdens, the additional complexity for tolling systems and compatibility with existing concession contracts.
As a compromise, the Commission will assess the obstacles to introducing trailer-based toll differentiation by 30 June 2029. Parliament and Council may reconsider the issue following this assessment. The agreement must now be formally approved by the European Parliament’s plenary before the revised Directive can be adopted.