Hauliers insist on demands, block border crossings

The Slovak Hauliers Union (UNAS) are insisting on their requests that the road tax should be cut by 50 percent and they should get a discount from the toll fee too. On Tuesday they blocked several border crossing points in Northern, Western and Southern Slovakia. According to Transport Minister Arpad Eršek (Most-Hid), UNAS's demands are unrealistic, as Slovakia would come into conflict with EU rules by accommodating them. Last Wednesday, the Transport Ministry proposed scrapping road tax penalties for lorries more than 13 years old. Meanwhile, significant road tax allowances should be applied to lorries of all ages. The older the vehicle, the lower the allowance, but it would still reach at least 20 percent. It also offered to apply toll fee cuts to all kilometres retroactively at the end of the year.