Electronic road tolls — compatibility between countries

SUMMARY OF:

Directive 2004/52/EC — interoperability of EU electronic road toll systems

SUMMARY

WHAT DOES THIS DIRECTIVE DO?

It sets out the conditions to ensure that different electronic road toll systems in the EU are compatible and can work with each other. It applies to the electronic collection of all types of fees on roads, tunnels, bridges and ferries.

KEY POINTS

• The legislation mandates the creation of a European electronic toll service (EETS) to collect tolls or fees.
• All electronic toll collection systems introduced on or after 1 January 2007 must use satellite positioning, mobile communications with the GSM*-GPRS* standard or 5.8 GHz microwave technology.
• Operators of the EETS must make available to interested drivers on-board equipment which is compatible with all national electronic toll systems.
• EU countries with toll systems are encouraged to ensure that, by 1 January 2007, at least 50 % of the traffic using them can do so electronically.
• The European electronic toll service consists of:
  • a contractual set of rules allowing all operators and/or issuers to provide the service;
  • a set of technical standards and requirements;
  • a single subscription contract between the clients, operators and/or users giving access to the whole network.
• The legislation does not affect the ability of national authorities to levy tolls on particular types of vehicles, the level of those tolls or their use.
• The European Commission, assisted by an Electronic Toll Committee, finalises the technical, procedural and legal issues involved.
• The legislation does not apply to:
  • non-electronic road toll systems;
  • electronic road toll systems which do not require on-board equipment;
  • small, strictly local road toll systems.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DIRECTIVE APPLY?

It applies since 20 May 2004. EU countries had to incorporate it into national law by 19 November 2005.

BACKGROUND

• Electronic pricing and payment
• ‘The European Electronic Toll Service (EETS)’ — brochure

KEY TERMS

* Global system for mobile communications (GSM): a telecommunications standard for digital cellular networks used by mobile phones.

* General Packet Radio Service (GPRS): a form of packet-based wireless communication service that allows mobile phones and computers to have a continuous connection to the Internet.

ACT

Directive 2004/52/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the interoperability of electronic road toll systems in the Community (OJ L 166, 30.4.2004, pp. 124–143)

Successive amendments to Directive 2004/52/EC have been incorporated into the basic text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

RELATED ACTS

Commission Decision 2009/750/EC of 6 October 2009 on the definition of the European Electronic Toll Service and its technical elements (notified under document C(2009) 7547) (OJ L 268, 13.10.2009, pp. 11–29)

last update 08.03.2016