The basic idea behind the tolling system adopted in Germany two years ago is that both German and foreigners have to pay road tolls, but German motorists are relieved by reducing vehicle taxes. This is already the amended version of the original plans, which were challenged by the European Commission and therefore finally rejected, according to which the amount of the fee would have been credited to the tax on vehicles registered in the country.
The main new element of the rules transformed into a Brussels claim is that car taxes are not automatically reduced by the amount of the fee, but the discount is based on the environmental rating of the engine, the minimum amount being the same as the toll. Thus, motorists are differentiated according to the engine classification, and not on the basis of whether the car is kept in Germany or abroad.
Austria - with the support of the Netherlands - turned to the European Court of Justice, saying that the rules practically discriminate against foreign motorists, and that they only have to pay for road use. This is one of the rare cases where an EU Member State has initiated infringement proceedings against another.
