The German car toll and its problems with European law

structure

1. The car toll in Germany

2. Problems with the European Commission

3. The trial from the Republic of Austria

4. The judgement from the European Court of Justice

5. What does the judgment mean for Germany?

6. Discussion

1. The car toll in Germany

- discussed since the early 90s, owing to funding problems

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1. The car toll in Germany Comparison

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1. The car toll in Germany 2005

- Should Germany sell there highways, too?
- First official estimation value since 1991 of the entire highways of Germany

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source: https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/umstrittene-entscheidung-frankreich-verkauft-autobahnen-fuer-14-8-milliarden-euro-a-390300.html

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Source https://service.destatis.de/GPStatistik/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/DEAusgabe_derivate_00000035/1010200051104.pdf;jsessionid=059D502055EFBF03256

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1. The car toll in Germany

- 2013 the car toll was included in coalition agreement
- On 07 July 2014 Alexander Dobrindt introduced his concept for a car toll

- These concept was the base for later introduced infrastructure tax law Contents of these:

- introduced car toll from the 01 January 2016
- applies for the complete German road network and vehicles up to 3.5 tons
- 3 types of a vignette are offered (10 days, 2 months and one year)

29. Oktober 2014 transformation into a pure highway toll

- On 27 March 2015 the German Bundestag decided the introducing of a infrastructure tax law
- In addition it´s valid from 2016, but not financially effective until the desired system is ready for use

2. Problems with the European Commission

- On 17 June 2015, the European Commission decided to take proceedings against the car toll
- Reason: only a burden for foreign drivers

- Solution proposal: complete cancellation of the car tax or a reduction of the fuel tax
- Germany government rejected the solution proposal

- Introduction of an infringement procedure by European Commission
- Official main criticisms: disproportionately high prices of short-term vignettes and the direct connection with the reduction of the vehicle tax

2. Problems with the European Commission

- On 1 December 2016, the court proceedings were suspended and later terminated after a consultation with Germany
- Condition for this: is the introduction of vehicle classes and the restructuring of the vehicle tax
- It was implemented on January 25, 2017
- The Bundestag has published a draft, which checks the current laws for their compatibility with EU law
- Key points:

- Domestic and foreign car owners are not comparable
- Conversion of the infrastructure financing system to user- based
- There is no discrimination based on nationality
- No tax relationship between car toll and vehicle tax

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2. Problems with the European Commission price list

BERECHNU NG:KOSTEN PKW·MAUT FOR AUTOFAHRER

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BER ECHNU NG:KOSTEN PKW-MAUT FOR AUSLANDISCHE AUTOFAHRER

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