Car tolls: Commission sends warning letter to Berlin – SPIEGEL ONLINE

The EU Commission requires within two months changes to the German car tolls. If the federal government does not give way, the EU Commission could sue them in the next step before the European Court. The toll scheme discriminates against foreign motorists in Germany, the European Commission criticized again. They therefore sent a so-called “reasoned written warning” to Berlin.

Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) was optimistic. “We are prepared for the disputes before the ECJ,” he said in Berlin. “The sooner, the better”. This decision will turn out in our favor, so that then the technical implementation of infrastructure delivery could take place.

The Commission he held before: “I have made in the past few months more than clear that I can not accept the waiting game.” It had “smelled very after, with pure intention to delay a decision at the European Court and to prevent” Dobrindt said. “There is obviously a different legal opinion between the Federal Republic of Germany and the European Commission – okay, but then the da clarified where it needs to be clarified -. And that is the ECJ”

EU Commission shows alternatives to

The EU Commission against the German car toll since last summer formally before. She sees this as a clear discrimination against foreign drivers in Germany. The law has already been decided, but not yet implemented because of disputes.

Although would both domestic and foreigners pay the toll. But only domestic car owners are to be relieved in the vehicle tax, precisely at the level of their toll. This system rejects the EU Commission from

reliefs that are not justified by the nationality of the beneficiaries, however, would be possible. The Authority informed, in determining the car tax could about the environmental performance of a role play. The problem would be to Brussels assessment avoided by a distance-based toll, in which the amount of which depends on the amount of kilometers covered.

procedures against the UK

Since the EU Commission has similar concerns while addressing the British truck toll, it also opened an investigation for breach European law against London. The regulations for the 2014 imported trucks vignette could penalize Foreign hauliers that EU authorities informed. UK has two months to respond to the demands from Brussels.

The opening of the proceedings against the United Kingdom had been hotly debated in the EU Commission. The timing is tricky, because the British are asked to vote on June 23 about the whereabouts of their country in the European Union. The EU is committed, in front not to stir up anti-European sentiment in the country.

A spokeswoman said this, the European Commission decide on their content. “I think it is very clear what is the role of the Commission, as guardian of the (EU) agreement must be booked.”