Revisions could be made to the UK’s flagship HGV Road User Levy to make it compliant with EU rules, a source said this week.
The claim followed a “positive” meeting last month between the European Commission (EC) and DfT officials.
It comes after the commission’s decision in April to begin formal legal proceedings against the UK government over its introduction of the HGV Road User Levy, which it believes contravenes EU rules on the free movement of goods in Europe.
The EC has argued that the levy unfairly penalises foreign HGV operators as its launch saw a reduction in excise duty for UK trucks to make the measure cash-neutral for them.
The EU source, who is close to the negotiations, told Motortransport.co.uk there had been a positive technical meeting in September between the DfT and commission officials to discuss how the levy could be made compliant with EU rules.
He said the EC was waiting “to see if more changes are suggested by UK authorities”.
However, the DfT played down the claim. “We have written to the EC and made clear that we believe the HGV levy is justified and consistent with the free movement of goods,” a spokesman told Motortransport.co.uk
Last week the EC announced it was taking the German government to the European Court of Justice over a similar levy, dubbed PKW-Maut, which aims to charge foreign car drivers for using Germany’s autobahns.
Announcing the legal action against Germany, the EC said the German levy was not in line with EU principles of non-discrimination based on nationality and the free movement of goods and services.
The EU source said the EC had not advanced its legal proceedings against the UK since serving formal notice in April because “the EC has had positive contacts on this subject from the British authorities”.
He added: “The big difference between the German and UK cases is that the German authorities have refused any form of compromise.”
