Moving tolling forward in the European Union

Emanuela Stocchi AISCAT, Italy

Communicating tolling in the EU at Institutional level

• First level: National Institutions (Government, Parliament, Regions, etc.)

• Higher level: the European Union’s Institutions because..

EU legislation is compulsory for each Member State, EU laws have the same power of

Constitutional laws

Why the EU? What is the EU?

The EU legislation and the National Member States

The EU Institutions in Brussels • The European Commission: representing the common interest of

the EU

• The European Parliament: the only directly elected Institution, the

voice of the citizens

• The EU Council: representing the Member States

The EU legislative procedure and acts

The European Commission: right of legislative initiative.

The European Parliament + the EU Council (co-legislators)

EU Legislative acts: Regulation, Directive, Decision

EU Transportation Policy: mainly Regulations and Directives

How to find a way-out in the complex EU labyrinth?

• Be included in the EU Transparency Register http://europa.eu/transparency-register/index_en.htm

• Always have up-dated Guidebooks

How to find a way-out in the EU complex labyrinth?

Regularly attend European Parliament committees’ sessions in Brussels (mainly Transportation, Environment, Internal Market, etc.)

How to work with the European Parliament and the MEPs? • Liaise with committees (i.e. TRAN), MEPs, political groups, MEPs assistants; • Present position papers, press releases, reflection documents, etc. right in time; • Always find compromises and agreements on possible amendments’ proposals; • Always act in a fair and transparent way.

Key messages to be communicated The whole communication strategy should be built on a basic principle, which represents the core business of our tolling industry:

Tolling is one of the most effective and reliable tools to finance, build, maintain and improve road infrastructure for the benefit of

road users and citizens.

Main EU Transportation legislative initiatives at stake

• EETS (European Electronic Tolling Service) • ITS Directive • Road Safety Action Plan • Environmental Impact of Construction Works • Revision of the EU legislation on public procurement and

concessions • Revision of the EU legislation on HLs weight and dimensions • Revision of the EU legislation on road charging

Which ingredients for an efficient lobbying recipe?

• Not only bilateral contacts, it is better to act together with other partners and within a European context, i.e. in cooperation with ASECAP;

• Importance of establishing a reliable and efficient networking in Brussels (joint position papers, joint press releases, etc.);

• When contacting EU Institutions and drafting documents, take always into account the main EU policies, strategies and objectives (i.e. growth, sustainability, road safety, creation of jobs, etc.)

Thanks a lot for your attention!

Photos credits: www.europa.eu, www.europarl.eu, http://europa.eu/abc/euslides/index_en.htm,

emanuela.stocchi@aiscat.it