MP Özgür Ferhat raises Egnatia toll exemption issue in Greek Parliament
Özgür Ferhat, Member of Parliament for Rhodope with the New Left Party, has submitted a parliamentary question to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport regarding the inability of permanent residents in border regions to benefit from toll exemptions on the Egnatia Odos motorway.
The initiative, backed by the New Left parliamentary group, follows complaints that residents have been required to pay tolls since January 1, 2026, due to administrative changes in the exemption system.
Administrative Transition Leaves Residents in Limbo
According to Ferhat’s submission, eligibility procedures were previously managed through the Ministry’s electronic platform. However, following a concession transition, responsibility was transferred to the newly appointed operator, Nea Egnatia Odos S.A..
Ferhat argues that the company has yet to establish a fully operational exemption unit or activate the required toll card system for eligible residents.
As a result, individuals who purchased new vehicles in 2026 or recently obtained permanent residency status — despite meeting exemption criteria — have reportedly been unable to receive the necessary toll cards and are therefore being charged standard motorway fees.
“Economic Burden and Safety Risks Increasing”
The MP stressed that the toll exemption for border residents is not a privilege but a compensatory measure designed to offset the economic and geographic isolation of frontier areas.
Residents in these regions rely on daily motorway travel for work, healthcare, education, and public services. The suspension of effective exemption access is reportedly costing households hundreds of euros annually.
Some residents, according to the parliamentary question, have been forced to use secondary road networks with lower safety standards to avoid toll charges — a development Ferhat described as a serious public safety concern.
Four Key Questions to the Government
Ferhat has formally requested clarification from the government on:
- Whether the toll exemption policy for permanent residents will continue uninterrupted
- Why the new toll card system was not operational before the previous platform was discontinued
- When Nea Egnatia Odos S.A. will activate the new exemption card system
- Whether interim measures will be introduced for newly eligible residents until the system becomes fully functional
Ferhat called the situation “unacceptable” and urged authorities to take immediate action to restore the exemption mechanism and prevent further financial strain on border communities.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has not yet issued an official response.
