Federal Government Produces Heavy Damage for Europe
“Several experts plucked the foreigners’ toll to pieces with very grounded arguments. The toll concept of the federal government is shattered to the core after today’s hearing in the traffic committee: It will not yield the expected revenues, discriminates foreign road users, and will produce economic drawbacks for border regions”, comments Herbert Behrens, spokesperson of DIE LINKE group in Bundestag in the traffic committee on today’s public hearing on the planned car toll. The traffic expert further:
“The coalition risks heavy political damage for Europe if it doesn’t stop the transport minister. The massive concerns presented against the draft law on the foreigners’ toll have to be carefully examined.
To me, the coalition partner SPD now is obligated to do this thorough examination which they already demanded. Instead of leaving yet more blood on the carpet with their confrontational course, the federal government should immediately withdraw the toll. If toll and tax relief for nationals will be decided infringement proceedings in Brussels will instantly follow. This can be considered certain after today’s hearing. Then the toll will apply to all and the coalition can forward the jackass to the EU. This is irresponsible.”