The parliaments upper house votes on a highway toll law in Berlin, Germany, Friday, March 31, 2017. The German parliament has given final approval to plans for a highway toll for passenger cars. Parliament’s upper house let the plan pass on Friday when opponents were unable to muster a majority to stall it. The toll, a pet project of the smallest of Germany’s three governing parties, has drawn widespread criticism and for a time was held up by a dispute with the European Union. (Kay Nietfeld/dpa via AP) (The Associated Press)
BERLIN – The German parliament has given final approval to plans for a highway toll for passenger cars.
Parliament's upper house let the plan pass on Friday when opponents were unable to muster a majority to stall it. The toll, a pet project of the smallest of Germany's three governing parties, has drawn widespread criticism and for a time was held up by a dispute with the European Union.
The EU's executive Commission argued that Germany's initial plan was discriminatory toward non-German car owners, as it would allow owners of cars registered in Germany to have the toll deducted from annual vehicle tax bills. Under a compromise announced in December, the toll will now take into account how much any car pollutes the environment.
Germany plans to levy the toll from 2019.
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