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Decrepit roads: Does a car toll help in the debt dispute?
Fueled by the dispute over the planned multibillion-dollar special fund in the federal government, the debate about a toll on German highways is gaining new momentum. In the view of the Baden-Württemberg County Association, a highway toll based on the Swiss model could finance a large part of the multibillion-dollar renovation of dilapidated highways. The communities see it similarly, but there is also criticism.
From the perspective of County Association President Joachim Walter, a toll of 100 euros for the annual vignette could be conceivable. In Switzerland, this currently costs the equivalent of 44 euros for the smaller highway network - both for people from Switzerland and for foreigners.
“The advantages are obvious,” said Walter. The model would be simple and could be implemented without bureaucracy. “And the revenues would flow earmarked to the Federal Highway Company,” said the Tübingen District Administrator. Previously, SWR had already reported on the proposal.
Walter: No Investments on Credit Alone
The necessary investments should not be financed solely on credit, criticized Walter regarding the plans of the possible future black-red coalition in Berlin. The Union and SPD have agreed during their exploratory talks on a debt-financed special fund for infrastructure. The exploratory paper states:
“With a special fund of 500 billion euros, we will get our country back in shape - through investments in roads, rail, education, digitalization, energy, and health.”
The plans require amendments to the Basic Law, which need two-thirds majorities in the Bundestag and Bundesrat.
Landkreistag Demands Fair Distribution of Burdens
A fair distribution of burdens between generations is necessary, said the president of the Landkreistag.
“If the younger people in our society get the impression that they alone have to pay the price for the failures of their parents and grandparents, then well-intentioned measures quickly become an economic stimulus program for the political fringes.”
The municipal association of Baden-Württemberg also demands that public task fulfillment not be financed solely through additional debt. This is part of the responsibility towards future generations. "Besides the primary and urgent savings, it is therefore appropriate to also discuss targeted revenue increases," said municipal association president Steffen Jäger.
A car toll is nothing more than a usage fee that can be discussed. Everyone must contribute their part. This also includes the proposal to reduce the number of public holidays.
Transport Minister: Other Sources of Revenue Needed
The introduction of an intelligent car toll on German highways would also suit the Baden-Württemberg Transport Minister Winfried Hermann (Greens) well.
"Given the gigantic costs of renovation and modernization, other sources of revenue are needed alongside loans," the Green politician told the German Press Agency upon request. Revenues from the energy tax, formerly the mineral oil tax, will continuously decrease in the coming years due to the ongoing electrification of vehicles, Hermann stated. A car toll could compensate for the revenue shortfall. Instead of a vignette, there should be a discussion about an intelligent, digital car toll, which should be "time and distance variable." "That would be fairer and more ecological," Hermann said. "The fact is: a new, smart approach to a sensible car toll is needed."
Calls for Toll Also from CSU Ranks
In Germany, there has been a truck toll on highways and heavily trafficked federal roads since 2005. The charge was extended to all federal roads in 2018.
The County Association is following the proposal of several CSU lawyers and the demand of former Federal Finance Minister Theo Waigel. They had also advocated the introduction of a car toll with a view to the coalition negotiations, to use the money for infrastructure renovation.
However, the CSU promptly dismissed the jurists' initiative at the start of the week. "The toll is neither in the CDU and CSU election program, nor in the Bayern Agenda of the CSU for the federal election," a party spokesman in Munich had announced.
First Attempt at Car Toll Failed Spectacularly
The CSU has already had experiences with a car toll. A law pushed through by them in the then federal government for such a toll was stopped by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in 2019 as unlawful. The central sticking point was that only domestic drivers were to receive a full reduction in vehicle tax for the toll.
Shortly after the ruling, the then Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU) terminated the contracts with the intended operators, who then demanded compensation. An agreement following an arbitration process resulted in the federal government having to pay them 243 million euros.
Content automatically translated.
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