WHAT EC TRANSPORT MINISTERS FINALLY DECIDED: ' • To allow
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full blown cabotage by 1 July 1998. Cabotage is the freedom for hauliers from one member state to pick up and deliver goods in any other state. The current 18,500 cabotage permits issued to the whole of the EC will rise to 30,000 next year and by 30% annually until 1998.
• For Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands to start charging all hauliers in 1995 for using their roads. A regional vignette, or windscreen sticker will be bought for a year, month, week or day. Annual cost for the vignette for the use of a 38t or four axled vehicle will be almost £1,000 (Ecul,250) and almost £600 (Ecu750) for vehicles under 12t or with three or fewer axles Daily charge for both categories of truck will be £4.5 (Ecu6). Monthly and weekly rates have not yet been agreed.
• That the revenue earned from the vignette scheme will be paid back to the five countries. Germany will receive 73%; Belgium 13%; the Netherlands 9%; Denmark 4% and Luxembourg 1%.
• That revenue from national hauliers in the five countries will be based on the level of user charge, the average number of driven kilometres per truck and the number of mutual driven kilometres by national hauliers on each others territory in 1992. The countries are expected to co-operate with each other in providing this information.
• For hauliers to be refunded for part of the yearly charge if their vehicle is no longer registered.
• That because of the geographical location of Greece, and the political situation in the Balkans, Greek hauliers can travel through the five countries at a reduced rate for three years.
• And that because of the geographical and economic situations of Ireland and Portugal, Irish and Portuguese hauliers get a reduced rote for Iwo years.