EU - Transport Policy

Written evidence from Transport for London (EU 02)

Introduction

Transport for London (TfL) welcomes the opportunity to comment on EU transport policy ahead of the Transport Select Committee’s visit to Brussels and its forthcoming oral evidence session with a Department for Transport minister . TfL engages with the EU institutions to support the delivery of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy and investment in London’s transport system. TfL considers the following issues of particular relevance .

Europe 2020

Although there is little mention of transport in the European Commission’s keynote strategy, where it does appear it is in terms of modernisation and decarbonisation. Railway electrification, particularly in urban areas to support the EU’s air quality objectives, and facilitating electric vehicle take-up would fit such a policy well. Indeed electric vehicle grids are explicitly mentioned in Europe 2020. However, it is not clear how the European Commission intends to achieve a decarbonised transport system nor the urgency of agreeing EU standards for electric vehicle charging now that infrastructure is being rolled out.

Trans-European Transport Networks

The Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-Ts) guidelines currently under development provide the opportunity to recognise the importance of urban elements and the ‘last mile’. Trips on the TEN-Ts are not taken in isolation. Urban links to the existing TEN-T network and their interchanges should be included in future funding criteria.

Transport White Paper

TfL welcomes the prominence given to urban transport in the new Transport White Paper. TfL understands the White Paper will include low emission zones and different scheme criteria to meet local challenges. Whilst harmonising schemes would be unwelcome, action from the European Commission in terms of establishing standards for retrofitted vehicles (in terms of EURO emissions) and an EU-wide low emission website would be of great benefit.

Eurovignette directive

TfL supports the principle of the ‘polluter pays’, or the ‘internalisation of external costs’ as it is commonly termed in the EU. The eurovignette directives [1] have introduced the principle for HGVs on the TEN-Ts. Whilst charging is not compulsory, where member states do charge, they must abide by the principles of the directives. Whilst a case can be made for regulating charges on the TEN-Ts which carry a large volume of cross-border trade, no case can be made for other roads. TfL is concerned at attempts by the European Commission to extend the scope of the eurovignette regime to all roads [2] . Indeed TfL understands the Transport White Paper will propose internalising external costs in urban areas. This would limit the ability of cities to develop policies to meet their own circumstances, both political and environmental.

Cross-border enforcement

TfL supports the exchange of vehicle registration information and robust enforcement measures for traffic offences. Although the draft directive currently under discussion [3] is limited in scope, it is an important first step in ensuring a fairer system ensuring contraventions will be followed up, regardless of nationality.

January 2011