Germany is hiding the European toll plan

Andreas Scheuer, the German Minister of Transport, abandons a plan for tolling at European level. He says this in a response to criticism from the opposition. It is the second time that a German toll plan has failed.

In July, the German Ministry of Transport presented a draft proposal for the European Union to start levying tolls on motorways in Europe within eight years for trucks, cars and vans. Scheuer made it an official European proposal within Germany’s European presidency, which will run until the end of this year. But the opposition in Germany does not agree. After a parliamentary question from the opposition party FDP, Scheuer announced that he was abandoning the plan. “Discussions on how to find a compromise to extend the existing toll systems to all vehicles on a mandatory basis will not continue under the German Presidency,” said the minister.

It is the second time that a German plan to collect tolls has failed. Previously, the Bundesregierung wanted to introduce a toll system in its own country, but the European Court of Justice called Germany back. German citizens would be compensated with a lower road tax, while foreign motorists would simply have to pay the full price. According to the Court, this was contrary to the principle of equal treatment for all EU citizens.

Recent Articles

Related Stories

Stay on op - Ge the daily news in your inbox