CELEX: 51978PC0361
Language: en
Date: 1978-07-27
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) amending Regulation (EEC) No 1108/70 introducing an accounting system for expenditure on infrastructure in respect of transport by rail, road and inland waterway (submitted to the Council by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (78) 361
Vol. 1978/0136
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 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                   COM(78)361 final
                                                   Brussels , 27 July 1978
                                Proposal for a
                           COUNCIL REGULATION  ( EEC )
       amending Regulation ( EEC ) No 1108 / 70 introducing an accounting
       system for expenditure on infrastructure in respect of transport
       by rail - road and inland waterway
                  ( submitted to the Council by the Commission )
COM ( 78 ) 361 final
 ---pagebreak---                                  EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
                                 GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
1.      On 4 June 1970 "the Council adopted Regulation (EEC ) n° 1108/70 ( l )
which introduced a standard permanent accounting system for infrastructure
expenditure in respect of rail , road and inland waterway transport and
provided for the sending of returns concerning infrastructure use .         Subse­
quently , under Article 9 of this Regulation , the Commission adopted Regula­
tion ( EEC ) n° 2598/70 ( 2 ) of 18 December 1970 specifying the items to be
included under the various headings in the forms of account reproduced in
Annex I to Regulation (EEC ) n° 1108/70 ,
2.      The Commission has since sent the Council five summary reports ( 3 )
for the years 1971 "to 1975 » showing the main results from the accounting
system .
3.      Article 10 of the Regulation makes provision for such amendments as may
be required " in the li^it of experience and of the measures adopted as re­
gards charging for the use of infrastructure" •        Accordingly , some proposals
for amendments and the general and particular considerations justifying them
are presented below .
4.      After drawing up these reports , the Commission departments concerned
now have a better idea of the information required to secure a measure of
comparability , and the data needed to provide a basis for the work on infra­
structure charging.       As regards charging for the use of road infrastructure ,
( 1 ) OJ N° L 130 , 15 June 1970 , page 4
( 2 ) OJ N° L 278 , 29 December 1970 , page 1
( 3 ) 1971 - Doc . SEC ( 74 ) 5285 final
      1972 - Doc . C0M(75)312 final
      1973 - Doc . 00M( 76)53 final
      1974 - Doc . C0M(77)26 final
      1975 - Doc . C0M( 78)48 final
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 2 -
the Council recently agreed in principle to the first Council Directive
on the adjustment of national taxation systems for commercial     road
vehicles ( l ). Some work has also been carried out on the calculation
of the marginal cost of using railways and inland waterways . Lastly ,
it has emerged that the inclusion of certain additional data could im­
prove the statistical value of the annual reports .
5.      The amendments proposed relate mainly to the Annexes to Regulation
(EEC ) N° IIO8/7O and , in certain cases , to the body of the Regulation it­
self . An amendment to Commission Regulation N° 2598/70 will also be re­
quired .
                          PARTICULAR CONSIDERATIONS
6.      The following particular considerations relate to the amendments
listed below .
7 . Definition of railway networks
        Article 3 provides for accounting for infrastructure expenditure of all
railways open to public traffic with the exception of railways not connected
to the principal network in each Member State .    It has now become clear
that infrastructure charging would mainly concern these principal net­
works and that little information concerning the "other networks " can be
provided on a regular basis .
( 1 ) OJ Nc C 95 of 21 September I968
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 3 -
       It is therefore proposed to mention the principal networks explicitly
covered "by the annual returns and the "other networks " for which Member States
wish , and are able , to provide information , which will be communicated only
once every five years . These amendments would appear in Articles 3 to 5 » and
in Annex II A , which would be sub-divided into two schedules , one for each
category of network .
8.  Financial charges
       Article 6 provides for the communication by Member States of amorti­
zation and interest charges on loans contracted earlier .
    To obtain a clearer picture of the financial charges borne , it is proposed
that separate returns be made for amortization charges and interest charges
respectively , and that the term " amortization" be replaced by "repayments "
in order to avoid confusions of terminology .
9.  Commercial vehicle traffic
       Article 7 refers to the communication of returns for the " distance
travelled by commercial vehicles by increments of maximum gross weight and
of actual axle load" once every five years starting with those for the year
1970 ( Table III B 2 ).
       Compiling these returns entails a major statistical operation which
Germany , Prance , Luxembourg and the Netherlands carried out for the year 1970 *
Only the United Kingdom has done so for the year 1975 » whilst Germany has
apparently assembled the relevant information but has not yet sent it to
the Commission .
       Despite these considerable efforts , the information provided is not
always completely reliable ;   moreover , it is not being used at the moment
for the work on infrastructure charging.     It is therefore proposed that the
communication of this information be suspended until it is needed for this
work .
 ---pagebreak---                                        - 4 -
        This Article would also have to be amended, to take into account the
proposed changes to Annex III .
 10 . Road maintenance expenditure
        At present Annex I provides for a sub-division of road maintenance
expenditure into :
        - " Maintenance of the carriageway surface ", and
        - " Other current expenditure ".
        The approach chosen with regard to the taxation of commercial
vehicles would appear to make this distinction superfluous and it is
proposed that it be discontinued .
11 . Road traffic
        Table B.l . ( Road ) in Annex III ( Vehicle/kilometres run annually on
roads outside built-up areas ) requires the communication of data for eight
main categories and a sub-division for commercial vehicles ( categories 3
to 6 ) according the number and location of axles .
        The work entailed by these two breakdowns and their value are different .
While it is worthwhile knowing the annual trend in road use , the structure
of the commercial vehicle fleet does not change all that quickly ;       returns
once every five years would be sufficient and are provided for in the above
mentioned Directive .      It is therefore proposed that the Table be split into
two , one part to be compulsory each year ( vehicle/kilometres for the main
categories ), and the other once every five years ( divided into sub­
categories ) .
12 .    In addition , for similar reasons of statistical realism, it is
proposed that the categories :
        7 : "Vehicles or combinations used for the transport of abnormal
              loads and special vehicles " and
 ---pagebreak---                                        - 5 -
        8 : " Agricultural vehicles "
be combined in a single category :
        7 . Other .
13 .    As it would be useful to have information on the total distance
travelled by road vehicles a new annual table ( B.3 ) is proposed ; this
would give an indication of the trend in the total distance travelled ,
plus a breakdown between distances travelled within and outside built-up
areas , sub-divided into three categories : passenger cars , commercial
vehicles , other vehicles .
14 . Unit s of measurement
        Pursuant to Council Directive 76/ 770/EEC of 27 July 1976 ( l )» the
horsepower ( hp ) is not to be used as a unit of measurement after 31 December
1977        is "t°  replaced by the Watt ( w), the rate of conversion being
1 hp - 735.49875 W.
        It is therefore proposed that Table C in Annex III to the Regulation
be amended accordingly .
( 1 ) OJ N° L 262, 27 September I976 .
 ---pagebreak--- Proposal for a Council Regulation ( EEC) amending Regulation ( EEC) NO 1108/70
   introducing an accounting system for expenditure on infrastructure in
           respect of transport by rail , road and inland waterway
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
and in particular Article 75 thereof ,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ,
Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament ,
Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee ,
Whereas knowledge of the expenditure incurred in respect of transport infra­
 structure is important with a view to the introduction , under the common
transport policy - of a system of charging for the use of infrastructure ;
                                                                           1
Whereas to this end Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 1108 / 70 of 4 June 1970
introduced a permanent accounting system for expenditure on infrastructure
in respect of transport by rail , road and inland waterway ;
Whereas account should be taken of the experience gained and of the development
of the common transport policy , and whereas the forms of accounts , the list
of types of infrastructure and the schedule of returns concerning the use of
infrastructure , provided for in the above Regulation , should be adjusted in
accordance with that experience ,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION :
  0J No L 130 , 15.6.1970 , p. 4 .
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 2 -
                                    Article 1
            Regulation ( EEC) NO 1108/70      is   amended as follows t
1.          Article 3 is amended to read as follows :
" Infrastructure expenditure accounts shall be kept for each of the railway-
 networks listed in Annex II A.l and for the total of all the other
 networks listed in Annex II A.2, as well as for all roads and inland
  waterways open to public traffic , with the following exceptions :
  a) roads closed to motor traffic , that is to vehicles with a cylinder
      capacity equal to or exceeding 50 cubic cm ;
  b) roads used exclusively by agricultural or forestry vehicles or which
      serve only to provide access for agricultural or forestry operations ;
  c) inland waterways on which traffic is limited to vessels of less than
      230 metric tons deadweight ;
  d) waterways of a maritime character, as listed in Commission Regulation ( EEC )
      No 28I/7I                      of 9 February 1971 *
2.          Article 5(2)(a) is amended to read as follows :
" 2 * Separate accounts shall be presented :
      ( a) in respect of railways :
            i ) for each of the networks listed in Annex II A.l ;
           ii ) for the total of all the other networks listed in Annex II A.2.
                However , the returns relating to these networks shall be sent
                only once every five years , starting with those for the year
                1980 ."
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 3 -
3.      The second indent of Article 6   is amended to read as follows :
     capital repayments and separately , interest charges in
    respect of loans contracted earlier ,"
4.      The last paragraph of Article 7   is amended to read as follows :
" However , the returns covered by Tables B 2 and B 1.2 of that Annex shall
  be sent only once every five years ;   in the case of Table B 2 , when they
  become necessary as a result of the work on the system of charging for' the use of
  infrastructure and in the case of Table B 1.2 . starting with those for
  the year 1979 *
  The first returns concerning Table B 3 shall be sent for the year 1979 »"
5.     Annexes I to III   are amended
in accordance with the    Annex to this Regulation .
                                   Article 2
       Member States shall , after consultation with the Commission , take
the measures necessary to implement this Regulation .
 ---pagebreak---                                   - 4 -
                                 Article 3
This Regulation shall enter into force on
                 This Regulation shall be binding in its
                 entirety and directly applicable in all
                 Member States ,
                 Done at
 ---pagebreak---                                                                 AMEX
1.    Item B.2 of Annex I to Regulation ( EEC) No 1108/ 70 .     is  replaced
by the following text :
      " 2 . Current expenditure
            ( Expenditure on maintenance and operation ) 11 .
2.    Annex II to Regulation ( EEC) NO IIO8/7O is amended to read as follows :
          SCHEDULE OP THE RAIL NETWORKS . CATEGORIES OF ROAD AMD INLAND
                       WATERWAYS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 5 ( 2 )
A.l - RAIL
      Kingdom of Belgium
      - Société nationale des chemins de fer beiges ( SNCB)/Nationale Maat­
         schappij der Belgische Spoorwegen ( NMBS)
      Kingdom of Denmark
      - Danske Statsbaner ( DSB)
      Federal Republic of Germany
      - Deutsche Bundesbahn ( DB)
      French Republic
      - Société nationale des chemins de fer français ( SNCF)
      Ireland
      - Coras Iompair Eireann ( CIE)
      Italian Republic
      - Azienda autonoma delle ferrovie dello Stato ( FS)
      Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
      - Société nationale des chemins de fer luxembourgeois ( CFL)
 ---pagebreak---                                                - 2 -
                 Kingdom of the Netherlands
         I
                 - N.V. Nederlandse Spoorwegen ( NS)
       t
                 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
                 - British Railways Board ( BRB)
                 - Northern Ireland Railways Company Ltd . ( NIR).
           A.2 - RAIL
                 Kingdom of Belgium
                 Kingdom of Denmark
                 Federal Republic of Germany
                 French Republic
     I
    I
                 Ireland
  i
i
i                Italian Republic
                 Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
                 Kingdom of the Netherlands
                 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 3 -
3.       Annex III to Regulation ( EEC ) N° 1108/70 is          amended as follows .
3.1      Table B.l in Annex III .   is      replaced "by Tables B.l.l and B.1.2
below :
                                TABLE B     - ROAD
               1.1 Vehicle/kilometres travelled annually on roads
                   outside built-up areas
Member State :
Category of road :
                                                               in millions of unit s
*                  Category of vehicle                   ]\  Vehicle/kilometres      *
♦                                                        t
* 1 * Passenger cars with less than 10 seats
: 2 * Vans with a total permitted laden weigfrt
*      of less than 3 t
                                                           »                         •
                                                           »                         •
: 3 » Lorries                                            : »
                                                           »
                                                                                     •
                                                                                     •
                                                           »                        •
•                                                        «1                         •
                                                           >                         •
•
   4 . Lorries with trailer                              «»                          •
•                                                        11                         •
: 5 * Tractors with semi-trailer                         !
•                                                        t
•                                                        <»                         •
   6 . Buses and coaches                                   »
                                                           1
                                                                                    •
                                                                                    •
•                                                        4»                         •
: 7 « Other
♦
 ---pagebreak---                                          - 4 -
                                    TABLE B - ROAD
                 1.2 Vehicle/kilometres travelled, annually on roads
                     outside built-up areas
Member State :
Category of road :
                                                            in million of unit s
|               Category of vehicle                     ][ Vehicle/kilometres
                                                          ►
                                                                                 *
                                                                                 •
! 3.1    Two-axled lorries                              ' »
                                                          >
                                                          »
                                                                                 •
                                                                                 •
                                                                                 •
                                                          ►                      •
                                                          ►                      •
: 3.2 Three-axled lorries                               ]
                                                        4»                       •
: 3.3 Four-axled lorries                                ]
                                                        4»                       •
! 4.1    Two -axled lorries with two-axled
         trailer
! 4.2    Two -axled lorries with three-axled
         trailer
; 4.3    Three-axled lorries with two-axled
         trailer
: 4.4    Three-axled lorries with three-axled
         trailer
                                                          i                      •
: 4.5 Other categories ( l )                            ] »
                                                          »
                                                          »
                                                                                 •
                                                                                 •
                                                                                 •
: 5.1 Two-axled tractors with single-axle
         semi-trailer
: 5.2    Two-axled tractors with two-axled
         semi-trailer
; 5.3    Three-axled tractors with single-axle
         semi-trailer
; 5.4    Three-axled tractors with two-axled semi
         semi-trailer
                                                          »                      •
: 5.5 Other categories ( l )                            ]
                                                        <»
                                                          »                      •
                                                                                 •
                                                          »                      •
: 6.1 Two-axled buses and coaches                       ] »
                                                          »
                                                          »
                                                                                 •
                                                                                 •
                                                                                 •
! 6 »2   Three-axled buses and coaches
  ( l ) To be subdivided where appropriate into representative categories according
        to the number and location of axles
 ---pagebreak---                                      - 5 -
3.2       Table B.3 below shall be added to Annex III :
                                 TABLE B - BO AD
                  3 . Vehicle/kilometres travelled annually on all roads
                      within and outside built-up areas
Member State :
                                                             in millions of units
*                 Category of vehicle                   '[  Vehicle/kilometres    *
•                                                       <|                        •
\ 1 . Passenger cars with less than 10 seats
•                                                       1»                        •
                                                          i                       •
: 2 . Commercial vehicles                               i »                       •
•      .                                                <»                        •
*     ( vans , lorries , lorries with trailer           ]
                                                          i                       •
:        tractors with semi-trailers )                  i »                       •
•                                                       <»                        •
: 3 « Other                                             i >                       •
                                                          »                       •
*     ( buses and coaches , vehicles or                 ]
                                                          »                       •
                                                          »                       •
:        combinations used for the transport            : »
                                                          »
                                                                                  •
                                                                                  •
                                                          »                       •
                                                          »                       •
*        of abnormal loads and special vehicles ,       [ »                       •
:        agricultural vehicles )
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 6 -
3.3    Items e) and f) of Table C in Annex III a re amended to read as follows­
                                                 I
                                                    i
: e) Tugs with a power of :
*    ( in thousands of units )
:    -      v 184 W
;    - 184 - 293 W
1    - 294 - 734 W                                       /
!
•
     -     ) 735 W                                     /
                                     1             1                  »      <»
•
                 Total e )
                         '
                                     »
                                    *»
                                                  4
                                                  4
                                                                      »
                                                                      »
                                                                      »
                                                                             4»
                                                                             41
                                                                             4»
m                                   i•            4
                                                    .
                                                    •\               '
: f) Pusher craft with a power of :
*    ( in thousands of units )                             \
                                                             \
:    -      ^ I84 W                                            \ \
;    - 184 - 293 w                                                 \
:    - 294 - 734 W
!
•
     -     > 735 W
!
•
                  Total f)          ;
                                    <
                                     1
                                     »
                                                   1
                                                  4i
                                                                      »
                                                                      »
                                                                     1»
                                                                      »
                                                                             4»
                                                                             4
                                                                             4
                                                                             4