European Parliament supports road charging
March 25, 2008
The European Parliament has indicated its support for both road pricing and congestion charging, having adopted an "own-initiative report" on sustainable European transport policy, which says that the problem of urban congestion needs to be tackled more ambitiously.
The report, adopted with 539 votes in favour, 78 against and 25 abstentions, calls for the application of a Europe-wide co-operation and co-ordination strategy.
Furthermore, Members of the European Parliament say better exploitation of existing infrastructure, especially by means of demand management measures such as congestion charges and road pricing, is needed.
The European Parliament estimates that urban traffic generates 40% of carbon dioxide emissions and 70% of other pollutant emissions from vehicles and that road congestion, concentrated mainly in the big cities, entails a cost to the EU equivalent to about 1% of GDP.
In a statement following the vote, the European Parliament also stressed the value of working from home, carpooling and car-sharing.
The European Parliament urged that an effective urban mobility policy should take into account the transport of persons as well as of freight and must therefore be based on as fully integrated an approach as possible, bringing together the solutions best suited to each individual problem.
The House issued a statement that put the emphasis on:
- public transport, walking, and cycling and for a new approach to urban logistics
- technological innovation
- better exploitation of existing infrastructure, especially by means of congestion charges and road pricing
- innovative solutions for the optimum integration of urban freight flows
- new ways to optimise the use of private cars such as car-sharing, carpooling and arrangements for working at home
The report is entitled Sustainable European Transport Policy: Taking into Account European Energy and Environment Policies.
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