The Egnatia Motorway tolls to the parliamentary agenda
New Left MP Hüseyin Zeybek submitted a parliamentary question on the increase of tolls on the Egnatia Motorway in Thrace, Northern Greece.
In his parliamentary question addressed to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, Zeybek referred to the letter of the Egnatia Motorway Employees Association (Σ.Ε.Τ.Ε.Ε.Ο.) dated 12/03/2024 and stated that the government condoned the decision in question.
The written statement made by MP Zeybek on the subject is as follows:
"More specifically, by signing the concession agreement for the Egnatia motorway (Π.Υ.Σ 2 - ΦΕΚ 24/Α/16.02.2024), the government is creating a problematic process in terms of public interest.
According to Egnatia Motorway employees:
a) an "astronomical" increase in tolls on the Egnatia motorway, on average around 120%.
b) Immediate abolition of the exemptions (free passage) for the local population using the motorway (Xanthi, Rhodope, Evros, Thesprotia, Ioannina).
c) Immediate abolition of the toll exemptions (free passage) currently in force and enjoyed by unemployed citizens.
The government's failure to do anything to prevent the above-mentioned developments, which are extremely unfavourable for the inhabitants of Thrace and Northern Greece, proves its real intentions and priorities. Moreover, it is in a hurry to speed up the concession process granted to the Egnatia motorway company, while actually making a "donation" of millions to the joint venture that will take over, and rewarding it with high toll increases.
In view of all the above, Mr Minister is asked?
Do you intend to reverse the expected increases on the Egnatia motorway, which are expected to make the daily commute to work a torture for our citizens living in Thrace and Northern Greece?
Can you guarantee that in the regions of Xanthi, Rhodope, Evros, Ioannina and Thesprotia the exemptions for the local population using the motorway will apply, as well as the exemption from paying tolls for unemployed citizens?
Does the New Democratic Government believe that it is serving the public interest with these policies regarding the country's extensive transport networks and associated infrastructure?"
