Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-12-13-Speech-2-369"
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"en.20051213.61.2-369"2
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".
Commissioner Barrot, Mr Twigg, ladies and gentlemen, the revision of the Eurovignette Directive is a top priority on the European transport agenda, because tolling and/or road charging is at risk of getting out of hand, and there is too much confusion as to what rules Member States should abide by. Since it is crucial that European rules be laid down for this internationally operating sector as a matter of urgency, I am delighted with the agreement reached with the Council. It was a long time in coming and was preceded by much discussion. It was equally the subject of intense debating in this House.
First of all, the consumer must pay, but it is, of course, not the intention for the consumer to pay twice.
Secondly, the money that the consumer pays should be invested in infrastructure and sustainable transport. Parliament has taken a firmer line on this than it did at first reading, and I am pleased by the Council’s willingness to accept that.
I should like to thank the Socialist Group in this European Parliament, the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, the Confederal Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left and the Union for Europe of the Nations Group, who have signed this agreement, for their support, and let me say that I hope that other groups will follow suit. Unanimity is important if we are to send out a strong message to the Commission and the Council.
As rapporteur, I should like to convey my gratitude particularly to the shadow rapporteurs, for the good cooperation, thanks to which, and to the confidence that has been put in me, I am able to present this agreement to this House, and one that enjoys the broad support of the groups in the House at that.
There was no lack of hitches in the process whereby the agreement came about; the particularly hectic voting in the Committee on Transport and Tourism springs to mind, and the fierce negotiations we held with the Council were gripping to the very last moment. On behalf of Parliament, I should like to thank the British Presidency, and particularly Mr Twigg, for his successful commitment. Indeed, he has managed to convince the Council that important concessions to Parliament were necessary. I should also like to thank Commissioner Barrot for his constructive contribution to this agreement.
Thanks to this agreement, Parliament has made considerable progress in key areas from first reading. I am pleased that Parliament has opted in favour of steering a realistic course in this. The agreement only provides for the possibility of Member States passing on infrastructural costs and not, or rather not yet, external costs, because a clear and transparent calculation model is lacking as yet.
The agreement does, though, considerably reinforce the environmental elements in the directive. For example, as of 2010, Member States will be required to vary the toll charges according to euro class. Toll variation is an ideal tool to promote clean road transport.
Additionally, from 2012 onwards, Member States will be required to impose toll charges from 3.5 tonnes upwards, with exceptions, because excessive administrative costs and a negative impact on the environment should, of course, be prevented.
Parliament regards it as essential that the agreement should contain a clear and explicit road map for passing on external costs for all transport modes, as well as an impact assessment. I can tell Commissioner Barrot that it is crucial that we gain more insight into this impact before we reach a decision. After all, we would like a positive impact on the environment and on the shift in the modes of transport. I am picking up many contrasting signals in this respect.
We should also remain sensitive to the economic importance of the transport sector, which is already dealing with the effects of the enlargement and high fuel prices. I should like to ask Commissioner Barrot to confirm here in this House that the Commission will be presenting a model and an impact assessment in two years’ time. This will enable us to revisit this topic during our term in office. Perhaps he could also confirm that the Commission, as soon as the report and model are ready, namely in five years’ time, will present a proposal for the directive’s revision, for that, too, is vital.
The proposal goes on to make statements about the future. I should like to single out two of them."@en1
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