EUROPEAN METROPOLITAN TRANSPORT AUTHORITIES January 2006 - n° 23 News from Europe G EU Commission has launched the 28 September for an early opening to the idea of urban-mark-up charges, arguing mid-term review of its transport policy competition in 2008, the Council kept the that urban road charging is already made The European Commission will carry out over initial calendar for the market opening. The possible by the current directive (Article 9). the coming months the mid-term review of political agreement includes measures to the White Paper on "the European transport avoid national markets opening through the Tolls and/or user charges are to be applicable policy for 2010", that has been adopted in 2001. cabotage, that could have had impacts on to vehicles with a permissible laden weight The objective of the mid-term review is to urban rail services. The agreement also of 12 tonnes and more, and of 3.5 tonnes assess the impact of measures that have allows a financial contribution of market- and more from 2012. Fare reduction been proposed to: opened lines operators to non-profitable possibilities for frequent users will be limited > rebalance transport modes national services. The text will return to the to the reduction of administrative costs. > reduce congestion Parliament for a second reading. Tolls and/or user charges are supposed to be > improve quality of transport applied to the whole of the trans-European The review will be use serve to identify objectives The Council also reached a political agreement road network as a principle. However, of the White Paper that can be achieved and on the a regulation on international rail authorities may decide to exempt isolated those for which adjustments are necessary. passengers' rights and obligations (see EMTA areas or economically weak regions from News 22) and a directive on the certification applying tolls or user charges. The review will have to take several new and of train crews operating locomotives and outstanding developments into account trains on the Community’s rail network. The Council accepts the concept of which justify an update of the basic hypo- internalising external costs, however, in www.ue.eu.int theses of the White Paper, including EU order to be internalised, the costs have to be enlargement, weak current economic growth, proved "undeniable". It was agreed that the high oil prices and new concerns, such as G Directive on road charging Eurovignette Commission will come up with a model on those relating to the safety of transport. approved by EU parliament the internalisation of external costs no later The European Parliament approved on 15 than two years including an impact In this context, to supplement its own analysis, December the second reading for the assessment and a strategy for a stepwise the Commission launched a consultation that Eurovignette directive update (Directive introduction for all modes of transport. has ended on 31 December aiming at taking 1999/62/EC), that aims to harmonise road Ultimately three years later, the Commission note of stakeholders opinion on transport policy. charging for lorries on EU roads and motorways. will come up with a proposal for further This bill is expected to be approved in a revision of this directive. Next to that there EMTA has sent a position paper updating its forthcoming meeting of the ministers of will be a clarification of the possibilities Member comments on 2001 White Paper, expressing transport Council. States have to introduce urban traffic charges its understanding of the current situation in order to fight air pollution and congestion. and regretting the lack of measures regarding This directive is expected to strengthen the www.europarl.eu.int urban transport. Mobility in our cities is a Internal Market and to establish a fair system huge concern in the daily life of 8 out 10 of charging for the use of infrastructure European Citizens and plays also a key role in based on the "user pays" and the "polluter G The European Commission wants to congestion, air pollution, oil dependency and pays" principles. It seeks to introduce promote clean vehicles greenhouse gas emissions. standards, which offer Member States the The European Commission proposed on 21 possibility to charge infrastructure costs for December a new directive on the promotion EMTA position is available on our website road transport, and also contains a roadmap of clean road transport vehicles. This proposal www.emta.com. towards the future introduction of internalising aims at contributing towards the creation of www.europa.eu.int/comm/energy_trans external costs for all modes of transport. In a market for “clean” vehicles in order to port/white_paper_transport_revision/lb_ addition, it aims to propose the use of reduce pollutant emissions in the transport consultation_en.html transportation with the least environmental sector. By requiring public bodies to earmark impact and stimulate new investment in a quarter of their annual procurement G The Council of European Union transport infrastructures. For instance toll requirements to such vehicles, the new reached a political agreement on market variations according to Euro-classes will be European rules will make it possible to give access for international rail passengers obligatory no later than 2010 for those manufacturers the assurances they need in The Council meeting reached on 5 countries which have toll or user charges. order to develop these vehicles for a wider December a political agreement on the rail market. These measures will also increase market access proposal, which aims at ensuring Parliament's amendments relating to stricter energy efficiency in the transport sector, one market access for international rail passenger earmarking were also accepted. Revenues of the most polluting and energy–intensive services. This directive is part of the Third from tolls or charges for the use of road in sectors. In the EU as a whole, road transport Railway Package, which the Commission the trans-European road networks should be accounts for approximately one-quarter of presented in March 2004 and which proposes used for the maintenance of the infrastructure total energy consumption and CO2 emissions. the opening of the international rail passenger concerned and the transport sector as a The potential for reducing vehicle emissions market in 2010. It includes the right for whole. An extra 15% 'mark-up' charge can and making energy savings is substantial. international trains to perform cabotage, be levied to finance new alternative transport However, the technologies needed remain that is picking up and setting down passengers infrastructure projects such as rail or inland more expensive than conventional vehicle at stations located in the same Member State. waterways (the mark-up can be raised to 25% manufacturing technologies. for cross-border projects in mountainous The Directive provides that public bodies Despite the previous Parliament vote on regions). However, the Parliament excluded (State, regional or local authorities, bodies governed by public law, public undertakings covered by this Directive is about 52.000 in the economies of scale involved. and operators contracted by public bodies total, split into 17.000 buses, and 35.000 to supply transport services) will be obliged other Heavy Duty. A quota of 25% clean The Commission will examine whether, in a to allocate a minimum quota of 25% of vehicles from the total corresponds to second stage, the quota obligation their annual procurement (purchasing or 13.000 vehicles per year of which 4250 buses. should be extended to include other leasing) of heavy-duty vehicles including vehicle categories. buses to enhanced environmentally The average price of clean vehicles is about These technologies have been supported by friendly vehicles (EEV). The “clean” vehicle 5-15% higher than that of conventional European funding from the research and procurement obligations are initially limited ones. The exact difference in price depends to these vehicle categories for which the on the technology. Diesel vehicles upgraded development programmes and the market shares accounted for by public for EEV with catalysers and particulate filters Structural Funds. The Commission proposal bodies are significant (approximately 6% in cost about 5% more; Natural gas (CNG) and will now be forwarded to the Council the case of lorries and around one-third in LPG vehicles cost about 15% more. The and the European Parliament under the the case of buses). difference is expected to decrease by co-decision procedure. The number of vehicle procurements developing markets for clean vehicles due to europa.eu.int News from the cities G Britain moves one step closer towards the Red and Green LUAS lines. RPA is an depending on the travelling zones) and includes the introduction of road pricing independant Statutory Body in charge of the following services on a unique card: Transport secretary Alistair Darling said at securing the provision of light railway and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) metro infrastructure, acquiring and facilitating > Car rental discount rates and car sharing conference that congestion on roads in the development of land adjacent to any access: 100 cars in 80 spots cities was one of the biggest threats to railway works and developing an Integrated > Taxi discount rates and cashless payment Ticketing System in Ireland. economic expansion and local economies in > National rail 25% discount card - the next 10 to 15 years. CBI estimates the BahnCard 25 impact of congested road an rail holp-ups at According to RPA, joining the two LUAS €29 billion a year. Convinced that without line would increase the patronage by 25%. > Discount rates in secured bike parking more radical measures, including more In 2005 more than 20 million passengers facilities – Fahrradstation – and in bicycle effective demand management and actively have been carried, representing 70,000 stores: repair, rental managing traffic flows, road congestion will passengers a day.