WRITTEN QUESTION E-0259/04 by Giacomo Santini (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Introduction of tolls on state highway 47, Valsugana.
Date: 2004-02-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, State aid, competition law, control of State aid, free movement of goods, free movement of persons, toll

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/559

(2004/C 84 E/0637)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0259/04

by Giacomo Santini (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Introduction of tolls on state highway 47, Valsugana

(3 February 2004)

The autonomous province of Trento has announced that it intends to introduce road tolls on state
highway 47 in Valsugana, Italy, within the territory under its jurisdiction.

The tolls would affect only passenger and international haulage vehicles.

Given the existing problems with road links between the Veneto region and the Brenner pass and the
bureaucratic and political delays hampering the completion of the A 31 Valdastico motorway, which mean
that Valsugana is the natural transit route for those wishing to travel from the Veneto and Friuli regions to
the Brenner pass and to the centre of Europe, and bearing in mind the recent Commission guidelines on
road pricing, will the Commission say:

1. whether it is aware of this measure?

2. whether it agrees that this provision represents a serious restriction on the free movement of goods

and persons?

3. whether there may be infringements of the criteria for state aids and of the rules of competition?

4. whether it considers this measure dangerous in terms of the reaction it may provoke on the part of

the authorities in other areas traversed by Highway 47 or other major traffic arteries?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(11 March 2004)

The Commission is not aware of the plans to apply tolls in Valsugana in Italy which the Honourable
Member is referring to.

The specific Community legal instrument for the levying of taxes, tolls and user charges is Directive 1999/
62/EC (1). It is targeted to heavy goods vehicles of 12 tonnes and more. It is to be underlined that Member
States levying tolls on goods vehicles below 12 tonnes and for passenger vehicles, including long distance
coaches, do not have to comply with the provisions contained in Directive 1999/62/EC as such vehicles
fall outside its scope.

Whether other vehicles than those covered by Directive 1999/62/EC are tolled or not, is a matter of
subsidiarity, where Member States can make more efficient decisions
local
circumstances.

taking into account

In any case, tolls may not discriminate, directly or indirectly, on the grounds of the nationality of the
haulier or the origin or destination of the vehicle. As far as heavy goods vehicles are concerned, tolls may
only be levied on motorways and roads with similar characteristics. In addition, Member States are bound
to respect the free movement provisions contained in the Treaties: in particular, they must refrain from
adopting measures which are capable of hindering intra-Community trade, as would be the case for an
unreasonably high toll applied on one particular route mostly used by hauliers travelling from and to other
Member States.

In order to further develop the transparency of tolls and to implement the ‘user pays’ principle, in July
2003) the Commission made a proposal for a Directive of the Parliament and of the Council amending
Directive 1999/62/EC on the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures (2),
covering all goods vehicles of more than 3,5 tonnes using roads on the Trans-European Network (TEN).

C 84 E/560

Official Journal of the European Union

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3.4.2004

This proposal also includes the possibility to have mark-ups to the tolls in sensitive areas, intended to
finance transport infrastructure projects of high European interest in the same zone or corridor. Tolls
concerning other vehicles or other roads will be left to subsidiarity.

The Commission will contact the Italian Authorities in order to clarify the points raised by the Honourable
Member.

(1) Directive 1999/62/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 1999 on the charging of heavy goods

vehicles for the use of certain infrastructure, OJ L 187, 20.7.1999.

(2) COM(2003) 448 final, 2003/0175 (COD).

(2004/C 84 E/0638)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0271/04

by Brice Hortefeux (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 February 2004)

Subject: Counterfeit euro coins and banknotes

According to European Anti-Fraud Office,
ten times as many counterfeit euro coins (26 191) were
withdrawn from circulation in 2003 as in 2002. The quality of counterfeit coins also improved in 2003.

The European Central Bank has also announced that EUR 551 287 banknotes were removed from
circulation in 2003.

It is important to note, however, that these numbers are low in relation to the total number of coins
(49 billion) and banknotes (9 billion) in circulation. Nevertheless, the rise in the counterfeit rate and the
steady improvement of counterfeit techniques is a source of concern for European consumers.

Has the Commission considered taking more effective steps to combat this problem?

Answer given by Mrs Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 2004)

The protection of euro banknotes and coins against counterfeiting is carried out jointly by the competent
national authorities, the European Central Bank (ECB), Europol and the Commission. The roles and
responsibilities of the European institutions and bodies are complementary.

Appropriate Community and EU legislation to protect euro banknotes and coins against counterfeiting has
been adopted including:

(cid:1) legislation laying down measures necessary for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (1);

(cid:1) legislation increasing protection of euro banknotes and coins by criminal penalties and other sanctions

against counterfeiting (2); and

(cid:1) legislation establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme (Pericles) for the protection of

the euro (3).

These mechanisms guarantee strong protection of euro banknotes and coins against counterfeiting,
enhance collaboration across borders and disciplines, and support intense training at national, European
and international level.