Unveiling of German road toll scheme

20.11.2014

Question for written answer P-009545-14
to the Commission
Rule 130
Pascal Arimont (PPE)

On 11 August 2014, the Commission stated in its written answer to an earlier question I had tabled on this subject that it did not have sufficient details to enable it to assess the planned German road toll scheme.

On 30 October 2014, German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt officially unveiled the plans for an electronically operated road toll. Drivers using main German roads will now have to pay a so-called infrastructure charge. However, drivers of German-registered vehicles will not have to bear the cost of the new toll because they will receive a corresponding discount on their vehicle tax. This means that only drivers from other countries will have to pay more for using major German roads.

On its website, the German Federal Ministry for Transport and Digital Infrastructure explains that because the owners of cars and caravans registered in Germany are already contributing through their vehicle tax to the cost of the national trunk road network, there would be provision in the relevant legislation for discount to be applied. The owners of German-registered vehicles would not have to bear any additional costs.

1. Is the road toll scheme unveiled by German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt on 30 October 2014 compatible with EC law?

2. Does the scheme not clearly breach the principle of non-discrimination inasmuch as there is provision for a parallel discount on vehicle tax precisely equivalent to the infrastructure charge and, in effect, the owners of vehicles registered in Germany will not have to pay any infrastructure charge?