Top EU court ruling set to end German road toll scheme

After the top EU court rejects German road toll scheme on Tuesday, reactions from German politics to the decision by European Court of Justice (ECJ) have indicated an end to the German toll plans.

Following legal complaints by Austria, the judges at the European Court of Justice ruled on Tuesday that the German scheme to charge motorway users is not compatible with EU law and discriminates against vehicle owners from abroad.

German transport minister Andreas Scheuer spoke of a "surprising" verdict and said that the discussion "was not over". A user-based fee was the right solution, also for its "environmental steering effect".

German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said at a press conference in Berlin on Tuesday that "I accept the decision but that does not mean that I understand it," adding that the European institution in Brussels had probably lost some supporters with this decision among the German population.

The ruling was welcomed in Austria, which had brought the challenge to the European Court of Justice. Austrian Transport Minister Andreas Reichhardt said: "I assume that Germany will respect this ruling of the European Court of Justice."

Germany's center-left Social Democrats (SPD) reiterated that one of the governing coalition agreements was that the toll should not violate European law.

The Greens demand that the issue not be pursued any further. "This CSU toll would have discriminated against foreigners and would also be a big minus. The ruling is a slap in the face for the federal government," said Anton Hofreiter, head of the Green parliamentary group in the Bundestag.

Transport minister Scheuer should finally bury the "silly-toll-project" and seriously take care of a "sensible transport policy", Hofreiter continued.

The head of the conference of transport ministers, Anke Rehlinger (SPD) commented that the toll was now "off the table". Scheuer should "completely withdraw the project".

For German border regions to other countries, Rehlinger added, the toll would have been "massively harmful" in terms of transport policy and economy. "With the toll we would have created new barriers where we have abolished borders."

One of Germany's neighbors, the Netherlands was also pleased with the ruling. "This is a plus for the Dutch motorist," said Transport Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, the Dutch agency ANP reported.

Following the failure of the planned car toll, Germany largest motorists' club (ADAC) called on the government to completely abandon all plans to introduce highway fees.

"The coalition had expressly ruled out an additional financial burden for domestic motorists," said an ADAC spokesman. "This promise must be kept in view of the already high burdens on motorists."