Ministers cautious about road user charge changes
EU transport ministers have given a cautious welcome to plans to improve charging for use of Europe’s roads, but T&E is concerned about a possible obstacle.
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The newly elected mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has abandoned plans for basing the London congestion charge on CO2 emissions. The plans, which included charging the worst cars over €30 and led to a legal challenge from Porsche, were launched earlier this year by Johnson’s predecessor Ken Livingstone. The London congestion charge remains unaltered.
Manchester proposes congestion charge
Manchester has become the latest city to propose a congestion charge. The city says congestion is costing businesses money and depriving the city of skilled workers. Five other major European cities (Bergen, Oslo, London, Stockholm and Milan) have congestion charges.
Biofuels tax
Switzerland this month removed its taxation on biofuels such as ethanol to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the country's transport.
Cars CO<sub>2</sub> deal 'unacceptable'
Italy has reacted angrily to last month's French-German deal on car emissions worked out by Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy.
EC still hesitant on ending 'externalities' ban
The Commission has proposed an end to the ban on member states charging lorry operators for the 'external' costs of road use, but it has put such a limit on the charges that may be imposed that T&E has described it as 'two steps forward but one step back'.
T&E Reaction to the adoption of the 'Greener Transport Package' by the European Commission
The European Commission adopted today a package entitled "Towards Greener Transport" which included a long-awaited strategy to allow transport to pay for the costs that they cause to environment and society. The package includes a legislative Proposal to revise the Eurovignette Directive that aims to remove a legal obstacle which prohibits trucks being charged for the costs that they cause in terms of congestion and pollution.
Oil price 'good'
The rising price of oil is good news, according to the head of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Speaking at the OECD's annual meeting, Angel Gurria said it would be 'disastrous' if the world’s richest nations cut fuel taxes or subsidised prices, as rising prices are a clear signal to consumers and companies to cut their fuel consumption.
Road charging plans due in July
Reports of the draft Commission proposals on smart road charging, which are expected to be published in early July, say legislation will allow for pollution and congestion costs to be internalised, but this will not be obligatory for member states.