The toll obligation is included in the Spanish recovery plan within milestone number 3, according to which Spain must create “a payment mechanism for the use of state roads”. The Spanish Government assures that it has already taken the final steps to abolish this obligation.
On Thursday, the European Commission confirmed the Spanish government’s request to eliminate of the recovery plan the introduction of tolls on highways in 2024although Community Executive services are still assessing this.
The government, for its part, assures this close the last edges of the negotiations to permanently eliminate this commitment.
“It has been much progress and constructive discussions are ongoing with the Spanish authorities to complete the review as quickly as possible,” a Commission spokeswoman confirmed.
A spokeswoman told the EFE news agency that Spain has requested changes regarding this milestone, number 3 of the plan, in the so-called addendum to the plan, and that the evaluation work is still “in progress”, including the required change of this measure”.
That same Tuesday, the acting Spanish Minister of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, Rachel Sanchezdeclared itself “optimistic” that the European Commission will accept the “alternative proposals” proposed by the government to avoid the introduction of motorway tolls.
The obligation to collect tolls is included in the Spanish recovery plan within the milestone number 3according to which Spain “must create a payment mechanism for the use of state roads, which will start functioning from 2024according to the principle of “the polluter pays”as the plan document reads.
This milestone is specifically linked to the disbursement of the sixth tranche of the Recovery Fund, for which Spain would receive €8 billion in direct support.
The government sent the addendum to the recovery plan to Brussels on June 6 and had a deadline of three months to evaluate it (two initial months and an extension of one month because summer falls within that period), but for the time being it has not published its conclusion.
Spain gains access to the 84 billion euros that has been allocated in the form of a credit and a further 10 billion in direct support once the revision of the plan is given the green light by the Commission and subsequently approved by the rest of the Member States.
Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
