After reviewing the Hungarian proposal, the EC has found the toll implemented last August too high. In reflection, the Hungarian government admitted to be investigating the tolls biannually and promised to adjust the fees for the next period accordingly to the present.
Helen Kearns, spokeswoman for Siim Kallas, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Transport and Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Euro, said that charges to be paid by heavy goods vehicles above 3.5 tons, appear not to be related to the costs of the infrastructure. According to EU regulations, revenues from such charges must be spent exclusively on financing the costs of the ETC system. The Commission expressed the idea of the charges being overly high and the toll calculations are not acceptably transparent.
Should Hungary not comply, the country could be involved in an infringement procedure opened by the European Commission. The National Development Ministry (NFM) reviewed the objection made by the EU and answered that the charges were set in line with the Eurovignette Directive. The NFM also added that they were in constant negotiation with EU experts when determining the charges.
The case continues.
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