Germany is to face the European Commission over discrimination on its autobahn tolls.
On Thursday the commission announced that it is taking Germany to the EU Court of Justice because of the planned toll that will hit foreign drivers more than German ones.
Until now the autobahn network has been free to use for passenger cars.
The fee for driving on one of the country’s zippy motorways was approved by the German parliament last year.
Under the plan, all drivers would be charged as much as €130 a year. But it is only the German residents who will see the money refunded through a rebate on their annual car taxes. Foreign drivers would receive no corresponding compensation.
In the Commission’s view, this scheme is discriminatory for foreign users, many of whom hail from fellow EU member countries. Such bias violates EU legislation.
"If a Member State wishes to make foreign users pay for the use of national roads, that charge must apply to all users - foreigners and the Member State's own nationals alike," the Commission wrote in a statement on Thursday.
"A key requirement of non-discriminatory road charges is that all users pay the same charge for using roads. Introducing a road charge for foreigners only, in law or in fact, would be discriminatory and run against the EU treaties."
The controversial toll scheme has been in the Commission’s sights since November 2014 and it has made a number of approaches to Germany to change the law.
Germany has delayed in implementing the measure, which had been due to be imposed this year, in light of the EU’s opposition, but the country’s transport minister, Alexander Dobrindt, has remained clear that he would face off this disagreement.
"Finally the Commission has taken the next step in the fight about the infrastructure toll," Dobrindt said on Thursday, adding that he believes the Court of Justice will confirm that the toll complies with EU law.
"A decision is long overdue. Brussels has already delayed the process for too long... Germany now expects a swift process so that the toll can subsequently be implemented," he said.
Comments
But why has no one asked just why state ownership is exempt from free trade rules in Germany and France , edf , trains , banking. Its easy to see why brexit was more than just xenophobes following blindly Borage.
'Do as I say, not as I do'.
Sadly, Chip is right - based on the facts.
As a side topic, Maragarida's comments have a great deal of validity.
Quite right Chip, but I seem to remember years ago the Swiss trying (or succeeding) in charging foreigners who just travelled through their country without staying. However, the Germans now seem to be going down the Portuguese route - ie tax the tourists as much as you can. But they don't, or won't, see the downside. There is only so much juice you can squeeze out of a lemon and it's about time the powers that be recognised this. Tourism is big business, yes, but don't kill the goose that lays the golden egg, there are other places to go.
The lawyers will be doing alright though!