German senate wants no toll in border regions

berlin - The German upper house, the Bundesrat, is Friday again railed against tolplan of the Minister of Transport, Alexander Dobrindt. Dobrindt wants foreigners to charge for the use of motorways. The Federal Council demands that there be exceptions in border regions.

There would be at motorway exits at the border of tolls should be abandoned because it would hurt the economy along the border and to European integration. In addition, the Federal Council insists that the cost of the introduction of the toll likely to outweigh the benefits. Neighbouring countries, notably Austria and the Netherlands, are furious about the toll.

The Federal Council is a meeting of 69 representatives of the sixteen German states not chosen. Dobrindt need there for his toll to ask permission. But the parliaments of the states may delay its introduction.

The September elections in sight, it is questionable whether Dobrindts plan survives the change of government. The toll would be introduced under the current schedule in 2019. Dobrindt defended Friday his plan in the German parliament, the Bundestag.