EU law will clobber 'sensitive' transits
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by Nicky Clarke and Derren Hayes • International operators' transit costs will more than double if a new European Union law on lorry taxation due for publication next month is approved.
The new directive, outlined in a speech to the European Parliament by EU transport commissioner Neil Kinnock last week, proposes an additional tax of around ECU 1,800 (£1,500) a year on international operators who use "sensitive transport corridors" such as big cities and across the Alps.
This increase is on top of the proposed doubling of the Eurovignette disc to Ecu 2,250 (£1,850) for hauliers' use of motorways in Germany, Denmark and the Benelux countries (CM 4-10 January). However, hauliers complying with Euro-1 legislation will receive a 10% discount and those complying with Euro-2 will receive a 20% reduction.
On top of the two price rises, increases in pay-as-you-go road tolls are also proposed. The directive will suggest a maximum figure of ECU 2.5 (k2.10) per kin.
"This is clearly an additional tax and the knock-on effects will be to increase costs of UK transport," says a Freight Transport Association spokesman.
Kinnock also called on the European Parliament to consider more road tolls in congested or sensitive areas; higher vehicle taxes for noisier and more polluting vehicles; and kilometre charges based on infrastructure damage and other costs.
The measures are to decongest transport systems, "to prevent them from choking and crawling and damaging our natural environment," says Kinnock.