Important changes are being prepared in Bulgaria's vehicle charging system. The Council of Ministers has published for public discussion a draft Decree that will introduce significant amendments to the Ordinance on the conditions, procedure and rules for establishing and operating a mixed charging system.
The proposed changes aim to bring Bulgarian legislation in line with the Road Act and introduce the requirements of two European directives related to charging vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures. This is clear from the Partial Preliminary Impact Assessment published along with the draft.
Key changes
- Introduction of mandatory differentiation of the toll fee according to the environmental characteristics of vehicles
- Regulation of the one-day vignette fee for passenger cars
- Creation of a new section for data access in the Electronic Toll Collection System
According to the impact assessment, the adoption of these changes is expected to have a favorable environmental impact. The aim is to encourage the use of more modern, environmentally friendly, and low-carbon vehicles, while introducing the "polluter pays" principle - vehicles that pollute more will be charged higher fees.
The draft Decree has been published for discussion on the Public Consultation Portal, as well as on the official website of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works. This gives citizens and stakeholders the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the proposed changes and express their opinion before their final adoption.
These changes are part of Bulgaria's broader efforts to modernize its transport infrastructure and bring it in line with European standards, while promoting more sustainable and environmentally friendly transport solutions.