Commission proposes a targeted amendment of EU rules on road tolls and user charges to clarify and simplify certain provisions

Today the European Commission presented an amended proposal to make certain provisions of its legislation on road tolls and user charges (Directive 1999/62/EC, also known as the eurovignette directive) clearer, simpler and more precise. Today’s proposal updates the existing proposal to take into account the latest legislative developments of the legal framework regulating the CO₂ emissions performance of heavy-duty vehicles, while preserving its original aim. This proposal contributes to achieving the goal of maintaining a consistent and high-quality EU legal framework. It grants greater legal clarity and certainty, allowing national administrations and businesses to clearly understand their rights and obligations. 

Next steps

The proposal will now be considered by the European Parliament and the Council under the ordinary legislative procedure.

Background

Directive 1999/62/EC regulates the imposition of tolls and user charges for the use of road infrastructure. The directive is based on the ‘polluter pays’ principle and the ‘user pays’ principle. The ‘polluter pays’ principle allows to set road charges based on the environmental performance of vehicles, in order to steer the renewal of the vehicle fleet in a way that mitigates the negative impacts of road transport on the environment. Directive (EU) 2022/362 amended Directive 1999/62/EC by enabling, among other changes, road charging on the basis of the CO₂ emissions of vehicles.

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