BRATISLAVA, February 18 (WEBNOVINY) – The Union of Motor Carriers of Slovakia (UNAS) decided to not announce a strike if the Transport Ministry fulfills its four promises regarding operation of the e-toll system, UNAS Chairman Jaroslav Poliacek told SITA. He added that the two-week period, within which Prime Minister Radicova planned to take steps to ward off the threat of the strike of the discontent hauliers lapsed this Thursday.
During a meeting on Friday between Transport Ministry’s State Secretary Arpad Ersek (MOST-HID) and the UNAS representatives, the ministry promised to rationalize the stretches and extent of charging use of the first category roads until the end of May. An obligatory deposit necessary in the case of post-pay payments will be abolished until the end of March. The Transport Ministry also took a commitment, that the price for installing an on-board unit will be reduced to a price set by an expert, with an adequate profit for the provider of the service. Within a credit system of toll payments, debit with no fines or sanctions will be allowed.
Transport Minister Jan Figel (KDH) and UNAS Chairman Jaroslav Polacek signed an agreement on cooperation aiming at creation of a favorable business environment in the road transport segment and enforcement of goals of the transport policy on Friday. The agreement on cooperation with the ministry was one of the four requirements of UNAS from about a month ago, when it also has declared a strike alert that is to end on February 15. UNAS also demands suspension of toll collection until an independent international audit of the e-toll tender completes as well as reduction and unification of motor vehicle tax in individual counties.
The ministry is working on improving the toll system already for several months. Its spokesman Lubomir Tuchscher said that a committee for toll effectiveness has been established, comprising of representatives of the Transport Ministry, Hauliers, National Highway Company, the Toll Police and the toll operator SkyToll. The committee has among others proposed reducing the high fines for toll-related offenses for more than a half and an independent audit of the system. The draft amendment to the law on toll, elaborated by the Transport Ministry, should become valid on July 1, after it is approved by the Parliament.
SITA