The Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport informed the European Commission, in Brussels today, about the progress of the preparation of electronic tolls in the Czech Republic in 2006.  It was also discussed whether, under the existing European Regulation, the electronic toll system which is being prepared could be extended beyond the network of motorways and high-speed roads.
 
Minister Šimonovský also informed the Commission of the preparation of temporary measures, until such time as the toll is introduced, which would address the disproportionate increase in trucking in the Czech Republic after the country’s accession to the EU.  Commissioner Jacques Barrot expressed readiness to discuss the issues on the level of experts.  Given that he does perceive the country’s problems with an enormous increase in truck transportation, he promised that the Commission will be open to such negotiations.  As temporary measures, the possibility of extending the existing system of fees to the border regions of the Czech Republic, and the possibility of subjecting selected bridges and tunnels on the already paid-for motorway system, will be discussed.  Both of those measures should, under certain conditions, be in line with the applicable European Directive on charging fees for the use of selected roads.  Expert meetings should now focus on a detailed evaluation of both of those proposals.
 
Given the urgency of finding a solution, expert meetings will start next week already.  If the Commission consents to the proposed measures, the Ministry of Transport will initiate a draft amendment to the Act on the Road Network, on the basis of which the above-mentioned measures would be introduced.
 
Through Commissioner Barrot, the European Commission announced that it will launch a procedure with the Czech Republic, for the breach of Directive 1999/62 on charging fees for the use of selected roads.  The Commission criticises the Czech Republic for the excessively low annual fee, compared to the daily fee, which, according to the Commission, discriminates against foreign shippers.  Commissioner Barrot, however, noted that he very sensitively perceives our situation at this point and promised that the Commission will be very mild.  He also noted that a number of problems of transit countries should be in the future addressed by an amendment to Directive 1999/62, which is being discussed intensively in EU bodies.  The Commission will strive to achieve its approval by the Council of Ministers of Transportation, this April.