EETS Directive - A Look Back at its Impact on electronic tolling

In March 2019, the European Parliament adopted the Directive (EU) 2019/520, commonly referred to as the "EETS Directive." The European Electronic Toll Service (EETS) was conceived to enhance the interoperability of electronic tolling systems and facilitate cross-border information exchange on unpaid road fees. The revised directive aimed to address existing challenges and streamline the implementation of electronic tolling across the European Union (EU), giving all member states a deadline of October 2021 to put the directive in place at a national level.

Directive 2004/52/EC (the original EETS proposal) established a framework for interoperable electronic tolling systems within the EU. However, the interoperability of toll systems remained limited, with fragmented implementation across Member States. The need for a comprehensive update became evident to support future road-charging policies, technological advancements, and the furtherment of the 'European Green Deal.'

Key Amendments that 2019/520 brought

The revised directive aimed to ensure widespread deployment and interoperability of electronic tolling systems across Member States, facilitate cross-border enforcement of road fee payments, support the development of user-friendly and cost-efficient tolling systems, and harmonise technologies and interfaces for tolling systems to reduce operational burdens and costs.

Regarding this last point, the originally proposed directive encountered criticism due to its mandating of GNSS as the monitoring technology.

For 2019/520, this was adjusted so that the technologies recommended for electronic tolling transaction monitoring included:

• Satellite positioning (GNSS)
• Mobile communications
• 5.8 GHz microwave technology (DSRC)

The intention was to ensure compatibility and standardisation across different toll systems, reducing friction in cross-border travel.

Registration and Responsibilities of EETS Providers

Member States were required to establish procedures for registering European Electronic Toll Service (EETS) providers. Registered providers were required to have the following credentials:

• Hold EN ISO 9001 certification.
• Possess necessary technical equipment.
• Demonstrate competence and financial stability.
• Maintain a global risk management plan.

Furthermore, once registered, EETS providers were obligated to conclude contracts covering all EETS domains in at least four Member States within 36 months of registration.

Rights and Obligations of Toll Chargers

Toll chargers must ensure non-discriminatory access to their EETS domains for all EETS providers. In other words, there could be no preferential treatment for national EETS providers. Any applicant must be treated with equality. Toll chargers were also responsible for:

• Developing and maintaining EETS domain statements.
• Providing transparent and publicly announced user rebates or discounts.
• Ensuring data protection and compliance with personal data regulations.

Enforcement

The directive introduced procedures for cross-border information exchange to identify vehicle owners or holders responsible for unpaid road fees. Member States must designate national contact points to facilitate the exchange using the European Vehicle and Driving Licence Information System (Eucaris).

Additionally, a conciliation body was mandated to be established in each Member State to mediate disputes between toll chargers and EETS providers. The body's role is to ensure that contractual conditions are non-discriminatory and verify that EETS providers are fairly remunerated.

Implementation and Compliance

Member States were given the deadline of transposing the directive into national law by 19 October 2021. They were also required to maintain a national electronic register of EETS domains and providers, ensuring public access to this information.

Furthermore, Member States were allowed the flexibility to temporarily authorise pilot electronic tolling systems incorporating new technologies for up to 3 years, provided they didn't interfere with the functioning of existing systems.

What Has Been the Impact of the EETS Amendments?

The revision of the EETS Directive (EU) 2019/520 has made a significant step towards achieving a fully interoperable and efficient electronic tolling system across the EU. As of 2024, there are now 19 EETS providers operating in Europe, of which 10 have registered since 2021. PAVE Insight will review the progress of EETS in the coming months to see how its implementation has progressed over the last three years since it was mandated into law across the European Union.