Germany is looking to establish an expansive motorway toll for cars across Germany and the rest of the European Union.
From July-December 2020, Germany holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union and a draft document viewed by the media reveals that German transport minister Andreas Scheuer wants to make sure almost all vehicles on motorways, including trucks, vans, and cars, have to pay tolls across the European Union, all within eight years.
“As regards member states that have already established a charging system, tolls or user charges shall be levied upon all vehicles except coaches and buses,” the proposal reads, Reuters notes.
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Not all are supportive of a blanket toll system like this, however. Certain government officials state that some German ministries want to put the project on ice, despite such a system being considered as a measure to fight climate change.
In addition, this is thought to be a sensitive issue among ministries led by the Social Democrats party that shares power with the conservatives of Chancellor Angela Merkel who have long been opposed to car tolls on the Autobahns.
Unlike most other countries in the European Union, Germany does not charge motorists for using its network of highways and maintains them through taxes. In the past, the country has attempted to make foreign visitors using Germany’s highways pay a toll but roughly 12 months ago, the highest court in Europe ruled against such a plan, claiming that it would violate European Union rules.
