Eco-vignette

8.9.2017

Question for written answer E-005620-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Andor Deli (PPE)

Over the past few years, several Member States have introduced different types of eco-badges, and numerous others are planning to introduce such badges in the coming years. In Germany, environment-friendly zones were created in several cities already in 2008, in many cases with an eco-vignette (Umweltplakette) being made compulsory for all cars entering those zones. In France, the ‘Crit’Air’ eco-vignette was introduced on 1 July 2016. This vignette is compulsory when travelling in the restricted traffic zones established by local authorities for all vehicles.

The introduction of such vignettes represents an additional financial and administrative burden for drivers, as they need to order them and pay for them separately for each country that uses them. Moreover, citizens generally lack information on these issues. There is also a safety risk, as for each country there is a different vignette which needs to be affixed to the windscreen of the vehicle, thus potentially disrupting the driver’s vision. The practice could also undermine the internal market.

What is the Commission’s position on the existence of varying legislation at national level, whose impact could include causing additional burdens for drivers and raising safety concerns?

Does the Commission sees any alternative to these eco-vignettes that could achieve the same goals without causing additional burdens?