EEC tolls
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AN EEC plan to reduce progressively motorway tolls in the Common Market over 26 years until their total abolition, has been drafted by Transport Commissioner Giorgios Kontogeorgis and is now under examination in Brussels.
The Commission, which has been studying the toll system practised in France, Italy and Greece, says it causes high administrative expenses and overheads for haulage firms and results in inconvenience.
Besides the motorway tolls, Brussels also criticises the charges imposed for using certain costly bridges and tunnels, for example the Dartford Tunnel, Humber Bridge and the new road links established under Holland's Delta Plan.
The Commission recognises that no abrupt decisions can be taken because of the need to repay loans for motorway construction, to negotiate with motorway concessionaires and the effects on employment.
Brussels is examining the following programme: • All new motorways in the EEC will not be subject to tolls, but this rule will not apply to particularly costly projects like tunnels or bridges.
• National governments will bear the operational and safety costs of existing toll-paying motorways; the tolls will then be brought to the level needed to repay loans, and then frozen.
• The financial consequences for the concessionary organisations will be borne by national governments.
• Abolition of tolls must begin before January 1, 1995.