Transport: Commission proposes fair payment for transport infrastructure 1

The European Commission is proposing a new harmonised approach to paying for infrastructure use across all commercial modes of transport. In its recently adopted White Paper, the Commission provides details of a proposed new charging system which would link the charges levied for the use of transport infrastructure such as roads, ports, air traffic services or railways to the cost that this use imposes. The new “user-pays” charging system will be
developed by the Commission working with a specially-created committee of transport experts appointed by the EU Member States’ governments. The new approach would be phased in gradually to replace the existing patchwork of charging arrangements.
The underlying principle is that charges should be related to marginal social costs. Marginal social costs are those variable costs that reflect the cost of an extra vehicle using the infrastructure, including “external” costs such as congestion, pollution and accidents. These costs vary according to time, place and conditions. Marginal costs can include operating costs, infrastructure damage costs, congestion and scarcity costs, environmental costs or accident costs.
In the first phase, 1998-2000, the Commission with the Member States’ committee would establish ways of estimating the marginal cost of transport, develop transparent accounting methods and advice on statistical and research needs.
In a second phase, 2001-2004, those principles would be put into effect in road, rail, ports and airports. Certain legislation is already under discussion, for example, a Commission proposal for legislation on airport charges.
In a third phase, beyond 2004, the Commission and committee would review the work to date and consider how to take it further.
The Commission has also proposed a package of measures to ensure a more efficient use of Europe’s railway infrastructure. The Commission is proposing three pieces of legislation to ensure more efficient use of railway infrastructure through fair and non-discriminatory conditions of access, improved trainpath allocation and efficient charges. The three Directives proposed would complement the rules laid down in European legislation for the rail sector in 1991. The proposed measures would establish new provisions for the allocation of infrastructure capacity, the charging of infrastructure fees, the separation of accounts and the licensing of railway undertakings.