MPs from the Committee on Transport, Information Technology and Communications talked to a delegation from the Committee on Transport and Tourism of the European Parliament. Among the issues discussed were the different legislative frameworks on road traffic, toll collection mechanisms, opportunities for expanding the Pan-European transport corridors as well as future legislative initiatives.

Halil Letifov, Chair of the Committee on Transport, Information Technology and Communications in the 44th National Assembly, explained to the foreign guests the widely debated amendments to the Road Traffic Act and added that Bulgaria is a leader in the number of road deaths per capita. This is a very painful issue for us and we are seeking options to split the Act into three separate sections to facilitate its implementation, he said. With regard to the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Halil Letifov stated that our priorities are the development and efficiency of intermodal transportation, and the automobile and air transport.

Our idea is to divide the Road Traffic Act into three sections: police and traffic police, motor vehicles and service, and last but not least, drivers and their training, added Stanislav Ivanov, Deputy Chair of the Committee on Transport, Information Technology and Communications. He also mentioned the future setting up of a tolling system for heavy goods vehicles and e-vignettes for cars.

The member of the European Parliament Wim van de Camp said that one the most important issues in the European Parliament relates to the principle of less regulation and more digitalisation in order to reduce bureaucracy for drivers. The foreign officials also emphasised the importance of the proper distribution of revenues from different types of tolling, and gave an example from France where a large part of the road infrastructure will be rehabilitated. In their opinion, the EU railway network is another sector that needs investment. By way of example, the revenues from the congestion charge in London are ploughed back by the municipality into the public transport.

The member of the European Parliament Andrey Novakov said that the EU funds for building infrastructure are used as intended and that the benefits by far excel the evident. His colleague, Peter Kurumbashev, emphasized on the course of development of the Western Balkans and the funding of projects which will turn into Balkan transport corridors.

The Bulgarian members of Parliament also talked about their priorities in the legislative activities. There will be amendments in the Electronic Document and Electronic Signature Act, the Electronic Communications Act, the Act on Maritime Spaces, Inland Waterways and Ports of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Railway Transport Act, etc.