Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications

Executive Director of Executive Agency Automobile Administration Simeon Arnaudov met with representatives of major professional organizations in road transport. The meeting was held at the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications as the goal was to introduce Bulgarian carriers mainly with the proposal to amend EU Directive 1999/62 and the recently reached by the EU Council political agreement at this stage of the work file.

Directive 1999/62 of the European Parliament regulates the charging of fees for lorries over 12 tonnes for the use of certain infrastructures. Amending Directive 1999/62/EC aims to establish a legal framework which enables Member States to include in the fees charged by commercial vehicles amount, which reflects the external costs of air pollution, noise and congestions, guided by the principles "user pays” and “polluter pays”. External costs are introduced through the toll.

The agreement reached by the Council is based on compromises on substantive issues such as dropping the fee for congestion and transitional periods without charges for air pollution standards for Euro 5, Euro 6 and higher. These and the other foreseen legislative proposal changes will be finalized only after successful completion of negotiations with the European Parliament.

The meeting was attended by representatives of all major professional organizations in road transport - AEBTRI Association of the Bulgarian Enterprises for International Road Transport and the Roads, the Union of road transport associations, the Confederation of Associations for road transport. Carriers thanked the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications that for the first time branch interests were protected and raised the issue of strengthening the control after the introduction of new fees.