The change of plan was announced on the official website of the Bulgarian Government on December 29th.
“With the adopted changes, the planned increase in the amount of toll fees has been postponed from January 1, 2023, and it is proposed that they be increased at a later stage – from July 1, 2023. The proposal for the reduction of vignette fees remains unchanged, and from January 1, 2023, they will be about 10 percent lower than the current fees,” reads the government’s statement.
The announcement comes after evident criticism from across Bulgaria’s haulage industry, particularly among smaller, independent hauliers. An organisation representing small haulage firms had even warned the government that blockades could go ahead if the toll plan was implemented.
“The purpose of delaying the toll increases is to help ease some of the burden on businesses amid high inflation, as well as give companies more time to adjust to rising costs. This could help support the overall economy and promote stability during the difficult economic situation,” said the government, explaining its decision.
Photo: Evlekis at English Wikipedia, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
