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    MEPs debate Commission’s controversial Eurovignette proposal

    20 February 2018

    On 8 February 2018, MEPs gathered at the European Parliament in Strasbourg for a breakfast debate on the controversial road charging proposal by the European Commission. At the event, a new study ‘The Reform of Directive 1999/62/EC EU Competences, Subsidiarity, Proportionality’ was presented.

    The findings of the research stressed that the European Commission does not have a sufficiently strong legal basis to justify an extension of the Eurovignette to passenger cars. The proposed legislation would not address a transnational problem nor bring added value for European citizens and would therefore not abide by the principle of subsidiarity. Furthermore, the study highlights how the proposal to regulate traffic on European roads is excessive and does not respect the principle of proportionality, which makes it incompatible with the agenda of Commission President Juncker.

    Host of the event, MEP Georges Bach said, “Road users already pay their fair share for using the road with current taxes and charges. It’s time for members states to use the revenue for the road network. One way this can be done is through earmarking this income for the road infrastructure.”

    MEPs at the event wished that the Commission had taken a step-wise approach to regulating, starting with interoperability. They regretted the lack of time to reflect more deeply about the issues at stake, including the potentially high burden on commuters.

    Laurianne Krid, Director General of FIA Region I, said “More than 70% of the taxes currently paid by road users are already linked directly to the use of the road. The Commission’s proposal has the potential to further increase this burden. On behalf of European road users, we urge MEPs to take the right approach in the debate and not to forget that affordable mobility and road safety are paramount for European society.”

    The event was hosted by MEP Georges Bach and FIA Region I. Several MEPs, Claudia Schmidt, Dieter-Lebrecht Koch, and Karoline Graswander-Hainz, attended the event alongside assistants and FIA members ACA France, ÖAMTC and ADAC.

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    Notes to editors

    See the photos from the event

    Lean more about FIA Region I’s position on the Eurovignette

    About FIA Region I
    The FIA Region I office, based in Brussels, is a consumer body representing 113 Mobility Clubs and their 37 million members from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The FIA represents the interest of these members as motorists, public transport users, pedestrians and tourists. The FIA’s primary goal is to secure a mobility that is safe, affordable, sustainable and efficient. With these aims in mind, the FIA Region I work focuses on Road Safety, Consumer Protection, Environmental Protection, and the promotion of Sustainable Motoring. www.fiaregion1.com

    Contact:
    Andrea Campbell
    Head of Communications, FIA Region I
    acampbell@fia.com
    +32 2 282 0813