The Sustainable Mobility Bill is in limbo, but the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Oscar Puente, remains hopeful that it will receive approval before the end of the year. The bill requires funding from European sources and he called for consensus from all parties to move forward with its processing. Despite being removed from its list of commitments with the European Commission last September, Puente emphasized that Spain must consider how it finances its roads, whether through taxes or tolls. He pointed out that roads are not free and urged political parties to reflect on this responsibility during a forum organized by ‘El Español’.
Puente also discussed the current inequality in the toll road system where trucks traveling through different countries of the EU pay tolls except in Spain. The Government plans to implement a system that will affect all citizens, not just foreign transport companies. Currently, tolls are being removed from highways as contracts with operating companies expire with a goal to create a uniform system.
The minister highlighted the importance of making a decision on this matter and invited political parties to take responsibility for financing roads. He also discussed his plans for taxing the use of toll roads, which was originally proposed to be implemented in 2024. Puente believes achieving consensus is not only desirable but also possible, and he hopes that both major parties in the country will support this initiative.
In conclusion, despite being removed from their list of commitments with the European Commission last September, Minister Raquel Sánchez’s leadership in Transport does not seem to have definitively abandoned the idea of taxing toll road use. The Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has reiterated his stance on this matter and has invited political parties to take responsibility for financing roads through either taxes or tolls.
