L 69/6
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
4.3.2022
(33)
As regards the entry into force of the reclassification in the user charge systems, the choice of an appropriate model depends on specific considerations concerning the administrative consequences of that reclassification and its effects on revenue.
Therefore, the decision on how to implement the reclassification in the user charge systems should be left to the Member States (or, in the case of common systems, to the group of Member States concerned).
(34)
In order to ensure the coherent application of toll variation according to CO2 emissions, it is necessary to amend Council Directive 1999/37/EC (8) to require, where available on their certificate of conformity, that the specific CO2 emissions of heavy-duty vehicles be indicated on their registration certificate.
If Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 is amended in a way that affects the accounting of CO2 emissions resulting from the use of low-carbon fuels, it might be appropriate for the Commission to assess the need to enhance coherence between this Directive and those amendments.
It is important to ensure that on-board equipment used as part of a toll service contains the data relating to the CO2 emissions and the CO2 emission class of heavy-duty vehicles, and that such data are available for the exchange of information between Member States, as set out in Directive (EU) 2019/520.
(35)
Light-duty vehicles generate two thirds of the negative environmental and health impacts of road transport.
It is therefore important to promote the use of the cleanest and most fuel-efficient vehicles through the differentiation of road charges according to their specific CO2 emissions and their pollutant emissions determined in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1151 (9) and in relation to Regulation (EU) 2019/631 of the European Parliament and of the Council (10).
In order to promote the use of the cleanest and most efficient vehicles, Member States should be allowed to apply significantly reduced road tolls and user charges to such vehicles.
Member States should be allowed to take into account the improvement of the environmental performance of the vehicle, which is linked to its conversion to alternative fuels.
While doing so, Member States should be allowed to exclude fuels produced from high indirect land-use change (ILUC)-risk feedstock for which a significant expansion of the production area into land with high-carbon stock is observed.
A standing subscription or any other mechanism approved by the toll system’s operator should allow users to benefit from a variation in tolls or user charges corresponding to the improved environmental performance of the vehicle, after conversion.
(36)
In order not to penalise the development and use of zero-emission light-duty vehicles because of the additional weight related to the zero-emission technology, Member States should be allowed to apply reduced rates or exemptions in respect of such vehicles.
(37)
Road congestion, to which all motor vehicles contribute in different proportions, represents a cost of about 1 % of GDP.
A significant part of that cost can be attributed to interurban congestion.
A specific congestion charge should therefore be allowed, on condition that it is applied to both heavy and light vehicle categories.
In view of their potential contribution to reducing congestion, Member States may exclude collective means of transport, namely minibuses, buses and coaches, from such a congestion charge.
In order to be effective and proportionate, the charge should be calculated on the basis of the marginal congestion cost and differentiated according to location, time and vehicle category.
(38)
Road charges can mobilise resources that contribute to the financing of the maintenance and development of high quality transport infrastructure.
It is therefore appropriate to require Member States to adequately report on the use of such revenues.
That should in particular help to identify possible financing gaps, and increase public acceptance of road charging.
In the interests of transparency, it would be appropriate for Member States to disclose to road users certain information on tolls and user charges levied on their territory, such as, information concerning the use of revenues generated by applying Directive 1999/62/EC, the variation of infrastructure charges, external-cost charges and the total revenue raised through congestion charges per category of vehicle.
(8) Council Directive 1999/37/EC of 29 April 1999 on the registration documents for vehicles (OJ L 138, 1.6.1999, p. 57).
(9) Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1151 of 1 June 2017 supplementing Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council on type-approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information, 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Commission Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 and Commission Regulation (EU) No 1230/2012 and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 (OJ L 175, 7.7.2017, p. 1).
(10) Regulation (EU) 2019/631 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 setting CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 443/2009 and (EU) No 510/2011 (OJ L 111, 25.4.2019, p. 13).