ANNOUNCEMENT 27 Nov 2013
In November 2013, the government of Germany announced a change in import formalities.NUMBER OF INTERVENTIONS
1
SOURCE
Coalition agreement between the three parties (CDU , CSU , SPD) german language
https://www.cdu.de/sites/default/files/media/dokumente/koalitionsvertrag.pdf
Press briefing - Video Interview European Commission , 31 October 2013
http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/video/player.cfm?sitelang=en&ref=I083245
Interview from 9 April 2014
http://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/wirtschaftspolitik/dobrindt-die-pkw-maut-wird-2016-scharf-gestellt-12888388.html
Import-related non-tariff measure, nes
On 27 November 2013, the political parties CDU, CSU and SPD signed a coalition agreement for the next 4-years term. One element of the agreement is a nation-wide toll on the motorway ('Autobahn') that would discriminate against foreign car owners. The new road charge would apply to local and foreign owners of passenger cars (under 3.5 tonnes). German vehicle owners would however get a refund through the vehicle taxing system.
The European Commission stated on 31 October 2013 in a press briefing that there is 'no green light on any future road toll system in Germany' as long as the EC has not seen any concrete plan. Nevertheless, it is explicitly stated that there should be 'no discrimination' and it will not be allowed to 'link the road toll system to the German vehicle taxing system'.
In an interview from 9 April 2014, the Minister of transport reconfirmed that the nation-wide toll will be introduced on 1 January 2016. Nevertheless the minister did not provide further details or a concrete plan on how German vehicles will be excluded from the toll. In the mean time, the government decided to scrap plans to introduce the toll.
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