On 17 February 2022, the Parliament gave the final green light to an agreement with the European governments that, on the one hand, updates the rules of the so-called “Eurovignette Directive” defining the charges Member States can impose on heavy-duty vehicles using trans-European transport (TEN-T) network roads and, on the other hand, includes a new scheme to address CO₂ emissions to reduce transport’s carbon footprint in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal.

More particularly, in order to enhance a road charging model based on an actual kilometres-driven system better reflecting the polluter-pays principle, the agreement establishes the phasing out of time-based road charging (so-called “vignettes”) for heavy-duty vehicles within eight years of the new rules entering into force and the application of tolls. Exemptions to the phasing-out of vignettes are allowed in duly justified cases, such as of low population density or where a vignette applies to a limited section of a road, after the Commission has been notified.

In the second place, Member States will have to introduce a scheme for varying infrastructure and user charges for heavy-duty vehicles based on CO₂ emissions. More specifically, the scheme will initially apply only to the largest trucks, for then to be gradually extended to vans and minibuses from 2026, where technically practicable.

Finally, Member states will have the option of setting up a combined charging system for heavy-duty vehicles bringing together distance- and time-based elements and integrate the two variation tools (the new one based on CO₂emissions and the existing one based on EURO classes).

The new rules will enter into force 20 days after they are published in the Official Journal of the European Unione; after that, Member States will have two years to prepare for their application.

Marco Stillo