EU Gives Green Light to German Toll System

Germany’s controversial toll plan for trucks using the country's highways has been given the green light by the European Commission. The toll system had been delayed over the summer because of Brussels' concerns over possible detrimental effects on foreign firms. However, talks in Brussels between German Transport Minister Manfred Stolpe and EU transport commissioner Loyola de Palacio cleared the way for the system to be launched on November 2. The original launch had been planned for the end of August but it had been hampered by technical problems. Once the system is introduced, trucks using the roads in Germany, a transport gateway to eastern and southern Europe, will have to pay on average 12.4 cents per kilometre, depending on their size and the gas emissions they produce.