Barely appointed, the new Prime Minister Michel Barnier is the recipient of open letters from several sectors, starting with that of road hauliers. Florence Berthelot, general delegate of the National Federation of Road Hauliers (FNTR), is the economic guest of franceinfo.
franceinfo: You represent the bosses of the sector and what worries you is a possible increase in fuel taxes for road transport next year?
Florence Berthelot: In reality, the political vacuum that we have already been experiencing for several weeks, even several months, has delayed a certain number of subjects, but first and foremost, the finance law. This is really what will structure the economic world, our sector and all the others. When we have warning signals on public finances, as they have been given, particularly in the Senate, we are a little worried about possible tax tightening. And we know that, particularly on fuel which is a reduced rate of TICPE, there could be a reduction.
So you are worried and would rather take the lead and write to the new Prime Minister?
Absolutely and in a way, compared to what we usually do, we are even behind schedule since the finance laws are already being drafted in July. Now, we know that everything has been delayed a bit. So we wanted to position ourselves very quickly, of course, vis-à-vis a government that has yet to be formed, but also the parliamentarians who will have to discuss the finance law.
This plane you are talking about, you escaped it last year. It will not be possible a second time, nor a third time? You benefit from a partial reimbursement of the TICPE, except that in the long term, the price of fuel must be aligned for everyone by 2030.
Exactly, the climate law says that we must gradually align the price of diesel, except that in reality, each time we started to address the subject, we realized that the cost for road transport was very high.
“One cent more of TICPE is 100 million euros. So it’s very heavy for this sector.”
Florence Berthelotto franceinfo
And then, from 2027, there will finally be the entry into force of the European carbon market called ETS, which will result in an increase in the price of fuel, and this time, for everyone, but also for us.
What you are advocating is that we wait until 2027?
In reality, what we are asking for is the articulation between ETS and TICPE so that there is coherence since in reality, the objective is the same, that of the fight against climate change and that we no longer finance fossil fuels. But the idea is also to allow the financing of the energy transition. However, it is not by overtaxing that we will encourage investments.
This is not about overtaxing, in this case, it is about bringing back to a fair taxation. As you know, the Bercy teams left a draft budget to their successors, Michel Barnier, obviously, can amend it. On Monday, September 9, the resigning ministers of Bercy, and Bruno Le Maire, in particular, will defend this 2025 budget before the Finance Committee of the Assembly. Nothing suggests that there will be tax increases, this was said by Emmanuel Macron’s teams.
We still need to check it on the facts because we are still, as we said, very concerned about the warnings on public finances and we will be very attentive to that knowing that the government has yet to be formed. When will we have a Minister of Transport? It is also with this interlocutor that we can bring a certain number of files. The administrative teams know this, we continue to work with them.
“This European mechanism and the TICPE must be coordinated to avoid massive inflation which is absolutely unbearable for the sector.”
Florence Berthelotto franceinfo
This tax is to encourage you to start this energy transformation. However, there are less than 1% of electric trucks in circulation while there is aid of 150 million for 2024.
But it’s very little in reality. Today, a diesel truck costs €100,000. An electric truck at least costs €350,000, so it’s three and a half times more, in addition to the cost of energy and charging strips.
So what you are saying is that if we do not have this aligned taxation, if we postpone it to 2027, when we will also have European regulations, we, the bosses of road transport, are ready to make the necessary investments on condition that the State also helps us.
We have already started and fortunately this year there was the possibility of a call for projects of 130 million to help finance these vehicles. But in reality, now, we will have to play on the very small businesses for which changing a truck requires massive aid and also an increase in the price of transport. It will be inevitable.
So what you want is for these aid envelopes to be maintained, or for them to be increased in the next budget. Is that also part of the message you want to bring to the next Minister of Transport, if there is one?
It depends on the state of public finances. For us, if we could avoid increasing our taxes, that would be great. If the aid could be maintained, that would be perfect. But at the same time, we see the budgetary equation as it is. So we will be there, fully prepared to discuss with our minister in charge when the time comes, to be able to see how to make this energy transition which is the challenge of tomorrow.