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Ecopoints threat
Page 11
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The European Commission is threatening to allow the extension of Austria's controversial Ecopoint regulations which restrict the number of transAlpine truck journeys.
The Ecopoint system attempts to strike a balance between the demands of the road haulage industry and those of the environmental lobby. Trucks with older, dirtier engines need more points to be allowed into the country.
With only a finite number available each year. truck journeys through the Austrian Alps are effectively rationed.
Brussels says an extension of the scheme will depend on whether new tariffs have come into effect by 2004, but adds that two further extensions of one year each could be possible after that.
The European Parliaments transport committee has already rejected EC suggestions that if the scheme are extended extra numbers of ecopoints should be made available.
Don Armour, manager of international services at the FTA, says: "We wouldn't welcome any extension of the scheme because it's unfair and restricts the free movement of goods through Europe."
In a separate issue, the EC has warned Austria that it faces a action in the European Court of Justice unless it complies with the Court's ruling over Brenner Pass tolls.
Brussels says that although Austria has agreed to an order to bring tolls for partial use of the route into line with those for use of the whole motorway— thus ending discrimination against hauliers from other countries—the tolls are too high.
Austria has been given two months to comply.