WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3080/98 by Markus FERBER to the Commission. Increased volume of traffic in frontier States caused by the compulsory Austrian road toll disc
C 182/42 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 28. 6. 1999 opposed to 26 in 1997. Consequently, the assessment for awarding subsidies under this framework has become more stringent. The two major criteria in this respect focused on the extent of the co-ordination amongst the fellow national members and the active involvement of people with disabilities in the running and co-ordination of such activities. In that context, the application submitted by Mental Health Europe ranked lower than other proposals received by the Commission. However, the Commission is keen to ensure that where possible the valuable work carried out so far by Mental Health Europe for the promotion of mental health in Community policies should continue. In the framework of the promotion of public health, Mental Health Europe is currently benefiting from a substantial subsidy to undertake a 24-month Europe-wide project on mental health promotion for children up to 6 years of age. Moreover, Mental Health Europe has in the context of actions against social exclusion been contacted by the Commission to explore its possible contribution towards a more inclusive society. (1999/C 182/053) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3080/98 by Markus Ferber (PPE) to the Commission (9 October 1998) Subject: Increased volume of traffic in frontier States caused by the compulsory Austrian road toll disc Since the introduction of the compulsory road toll disc in Austria, Lindau-Zech, a town on federal road B 31 on the Austrian border, has suffered an inordinate volume of cross-frontier traffic. Many car drivers on their way to Switzerland or Austria come off the A 96 motorway and take federal road B 31 to their destination to save paying for the road toll disc. 1. What measures does the Commission intend to take to stem the increased volume of traffic in frontier towns and villages in a similar situation? 2. Does the Commission have any plans to require States imposing a road toll on their national territory to waive the toll up to the first exit after the frontier in order to relieve the frontier dwellers of the neighbouring State of the increased volume of traffic? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (6 November 1998) The Austrian charging system for passenger cars has been assessed in detail and found to be in conformity with Community law. However there is no specific Community legislation obliging Member States to abstain from levying user charges or tolls on motorways until the first exit after a border. Under the principle of subsidiarity Member States are free to decide on the introduction of charges on passenger cars for the use of motorways. On the same basis Member States can also decide whether they wish to exclude from these charges the section of the motorway up to the first exit after a border as in fact some Member States do. No representations have been made by Member States seeking to make such a practice compulsory throughout the Union. For the time being the Commission has no plans to propose legislation on the matter