The European Commission has decided to refer Bulgaria, Greece, and Poland to the Court of Justice of the European Union. This action follows their failure to transpose EU rules on vehicle charging for road infrastructure use as per Directive (EU) 2022/362. The deadline for these Member States to communicate their transposition measures was March 25, 2024.
Formal notices were issued by the Commission on May 23, 2024, followed by reasoned opinions on December 16, 2024. Each provided a two-month period for response and compliance. Despite presenting a calendar for adoption of transposition measures in their replies, no measure has been notified to date.
The Commission stated that efforts by national authorities have been insufficient and is thus requesting financial sanctions through the Court of Justice of the European Union.
The directive in question pertains to imposing distance-based charges (tolls) and time-based charges (vignettes) within the EU. While Member States are not required to recover infrastructure costs through road charges, those choosing this method must adhere to the directive’s rules.
Directive (EU) 2022/362 introduced significant changes including expanding vehicle scope and new requirements for user charges proportional to road use duration. Additionally, from 2026, external costs like air pollution must be recovered. The obligation to vary tariffs based on Euro standards has shifted towards CO2 emissions criteria.
New charges addressing congestion reflect a move towards an environmentally focused system.
