During a meeting in Cyprus on the sidelines of an informal EU Transport Council, the Minister of Transport and Communications for Bulgaria, Korman Ismailov, addressed concerns regarding roadside inspections and fines imposed on Bulgarian carriers within French territory. While Bulgaria acknowledged the right of authorities to conduct inspections, the imposition of fines that allegedly violate European legislation was deemed unacceptable. The Bulgarian delegation expressed significant concern over the practice of French authorities issuing penalties without utilizing established cooperative mechanisms.
Minister Ismailov stated that the situation gave the impression that national legislation was being prioritized over overarching European law within the transport sector. The participating ministers confirmed that an expert online meeting, initiated by the Bulgarian side, is scheduled for early May to develop a concrete resolution. This issue has remained on the agenda of Bulgarian institutions for nearly two years, despite numerous bilateral and European-level discussions, with progress proving difficult to achieve.
During the meeting, Minister Ismailov received assurances that all reports would undergo detailed, individual examination, and that the French side does not discriminate against Bulgarian carriers. The French minister provided data indicating that in 2025, 2,229 Bulgarian vehicles were inspected, and any established violations were comparable to those recorded for carriers from other nations. The dialogue aims to harmonize regulatory enforcement across the transport corridors between the two nations.
Topics: #transport #french #bulgarian
