News

Germany has had its first protest against rising fuel costs and the planned increase in the Maut toll system.

Around 100 people took part in the protest on Monday (14th July) near the East German town of Brandenburg and have handed a petition to Chancellor Angela Merkel, in which they ask for the toll increase to be scrapped.

Within the German government's climate scheme - Klimapaket 2 - the average Maut cost will increase from 13.5 to 16.5 euro cent per kilometre.

One of  the protest organisers, haulier Detlef Benecke, told German logistic news service Verkehrs Rundschau that the next protest could be 'a lot worse if' there is no reaction to the petition.

Freight association Bundesverband Gueterkraftverkehr Logistik und Entsorgung (BLG) says that the additional revenue that will be raised would be used to finance many things other than the road infrastructure. From the estimated €2bn that would be raised in 2009, it says only €200m would be spent on the roads, and the rest would be used to subsidise the Budget. It states that under Chancellor Merkel's rule, everything is getting more expensive.

German industry body Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag (DIHK) has also spoken out against the Maut increase saying the industry is already suffering enough under the fuel price increases. It is also sceptical whether this move would mean a permanent increase in transport infrastructure spending.