Provisional agreement reached in the EU on the toll directive. Zero-emission heavy goods vehicles to be exempt until 2031
The aim is to bring the text into line with the new legislative standards on emissions for heavy-duty vehicles and to establish clear rules that apply throughout Europe
The European Parliament and the Council of the EU have reached a provisional agreement on a series of amendments to the European directive on road tolls (also known as the Eurovignette Directive). The aim is to revise the text to bring the rules into line with new legislative standards on carbon dioxide emissions from heavy goods vehicles, which come into force on 1 July, thereby establishing a clear and uniform set of rules applicable across the whole of Europe.
“This agreement provides the legal certainty that transport operators, toll collection authorities and service providers need in relation to the extended application of the new CO₂ emission standards for heavy goods vehicles,” commented Alexis Vafeades, Minister for Transport, Communications and Public Works of the Republic of Cyprus. “By clarifying the key provisions of the Eurovignette Directive, we are ensuring a smoother and harmonised implementation across the European Union. Over the past six months, the Cypriot Presidency has achieved concrete results towards a more competitive, more resilient and more sustainable European transport network for the future.”
The proposed amendments, in fact, provide industry professionals with clearer guidance on the application of the regulatory provisions set out in the Eurovignette Directive to the various categories of vehicles and emission classes. This is a crucial step towards facilitating the transition to a road charging system that successfully balances the issue of emissions with the need for harmonised legislation.
What does the agreement entail?
As well as clarifying the definitions of vehicles (in relation to emissions, including zero-emission and low-emission vehicles, vehicle groups and commercial vehicles such as refuse collection lorries, which are then assigned to their respective classes), the reduction trajectories and the new reference values, the agreement allows Member States to apply reduced tolls of up to 75% for lorries and buses with low emissions until 30 June 2031 and by 50% from July of the same year. Benefits are also planned for zero-emission lorries and buses: until 30 June 2031, they may be exempt from tolls and infrastructure usage charges and, after that date, will benefit from a 75% reduction in charges.
The imposition of tolls is optional for European Member States, although they must comply with the charging principles set out in the directive.
