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Parliament backs more proportionate EU vehicle checks and pragmatic tolls

IRU welcomes the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism’s (TRAN) support for key positions on the Roadworthiness Package and the revision of Eurovignette rules on CO₂ emission classes for heavy-duty vehicles with trailers.

The TRAN vote supports a more proportionate and operational approach to vehicle inspections and road charging, reflecting several priorities consistently raised by the road transport sector.

EU lawmakers backed measures to modernise periodic roadworthiness testing and roadside inspections while simplifying tolling and CO₂ classification rules to better support the transition to cleaner vehicles.

Roadworthiness

TRAN backed a more risk-based and proportionate approach to periodic roadworthiness tests and technical roadside inspections, scaling back several stricter elements proposed by the European Commission.

Key sector priorities supported by the Parliament include the removal of mandatory annual emissions testing for vans and avoiding unintended penalties for zero-emission vans linked to the weight of their technologies.

IRU EU Director Raluca Marian said, “The European Parliament rightly recognised that zero-emission vans should not face stricter testing obligations simply because of the weight of their technologies.”

“The removal of mandatory annual emissions testing for vans is also an important step towards a more proportionate framework that avoids unnecessary burden for operators,” she added.

On remote sensing, the Parliament supported a more balanced approach than initially proposed by the Commission. The technology would be used only to help identify potentially high-emitting vehicles for additional checks rather than directly triggering penalties, with Member States retaining flexibility regarding its deployment.

“Remote sensing technologies can become a useful tool for more targeted and effective enforcement by helping identify potentially high-emitting vehicles for follow-up checks,” said Raluca Marian.

“At the same time, the Parliament correctly recognised that these technologies are still at an early stage and may remain prone to errors. Keeping their use voluntary and focused on pre-screening is a pragmatic and proportionate approach.”

The Parliament’s position also improves operational flexibility compared with the Commission’s proposal and the Council’s general approach. Vehicles identified with dangerous deficiencies could be re-tested either where the issue is detected or in the country of registration, helping facilitate cross-border operations.

Additional simplifications include non-mandatory visual cargo securing checks, more proportionate controls on charging cables, and improved data exchange provisions aligned with the General Data Protection Regulation.

Some aspects remain open for further discussion. These include rules linked to the temporary suspension of roadworthiness certificates, fuel quality checks and crisis-related arrangements.

“Discussions with Member States should now focus on ensuring that the final framework remains proportionate and workable, particularly on periodic testing for vans, remote sensing technologies and cargo securing requirements,” said Raluca Marian.

Tolls

TRAN backed amendments to the Eurovignette Directive aimed at making tolling and infrastructure charging rules more practical and easier to apply across borders.

The Parliament’s position maintains a technology-neutral approach while clarifying the treatment of trailers and semi-trailers, ensuring that tolls better reflect real vehicle combinations and operational costs.

It also broadens incentives for cleaner technologies. Member States could apply temporary toll reductions of up to 75% for zero- and low-emission vehicles, including vehicles using CO₂-neutral fuels.

Administrative procedures are also simplified. CO₂ classifications would become easier to access and verify, including digitally, while mutual recognition between Member States would support smoother cross-border operations. Where trailer data is unavailable, charges would be based on the motor vehicle alone.

The vote also recognises auxiliary technologies, such as electrified refrigeration units, and clarifies weight allowances for alternative fuel light commercial vehicles.

Overall, the amendments move towards a more practical tolling framework with clearer incentives and a lower administrative burden.

“The Parliament’s position supports a more practical and technology-neutral tolling framework, while preserving incentives for CO₂-neutral fuels and other alternative technologies,” said Raluca Marian.

“Simplifying CO₂ classifications and improving mutual recognition across Member States are also important steps for smoother cross-border operations.”

Next steps

The negotiating mandates on both files will now move to a plenary vote in the European Parliament before entering interinstitutional negotiations with the Council and Commission.

The next phase will focus on aligning positions to deliver a coherent and workable framework across the EU.