The European Electronic Toll Service (EETS) ensures interoperability of road toll systems — frequently asked questions

MEMO/12/649 EUROPEAN COMMISSION MEMO Brussels, 7 September 2012 The European Electronic Toll Service (EETS) ensures interoperability of road toll systems frequently asked questions What is EETS? It can be summarised as "one vehicle, one contract, one on-board unit". EETS will enable road users to pay tolls throughout the European Union (EU) with one subscription contract with one service provider and one on-board unit. The EETS will be available on all infrastructure with electronic tolls, such as motorways, tunnels, bridges, ferries, etc. It will ensure the interoperability of electronic road toll systems on the entire EU road network, limit cash transactions at toll stations and eliminate cumbersome procedures. This will improve traffic flow and reduce congestion. Why EETS? A toll is a charge paid by vehicle users to circulate on certain roads or areas. Tolls are generally employed to finance the construction and maintenance of road infrastructure and to tackle rising levels of congestion, noise and pollution. Electronic toll systems were introduced in several European countries in the early 1990s. Twenty million road users currently subscribe to an electronic toll service in the EU. These systems operate with onboard equipment to collect and process data. However, various incompatible systems were set up at national or even local levels. National electronic systems are not often interoperable. Non-interoperable road toll systems hinder international road transport. Road...