EU ‘reimposes’ high way tolls in 2024, traffic body says

Highway tolls will be mandatory in Spain again in 2024 as imposed by the EU, the director of Spain's traffic authority, the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT), Pere Navarro, announced.. 

After many years of grassroots pressure, the Catalan and Spanish authorities terminated toll concessions back in August 2021 to make driving more affordable. It is only now that the topic is back on the agenda as politicians are campaigning for the upcoming general election on July 23. 

In an interview with Catalan television TV3, DGT's director asked for the topic to be taken out of the debate, as in 2024 the EU will "impose" mandatory tolls again. 

Navarro added that highway tolls are a way to ensure road conservation and maintenance.

However, the Spanish minister of transport, Raquel Sánchez, has "categorically" denied that the Spanish government is "thinking about the imposition of tolls." 

During the debate between Spain's two main prime ministerial candidates, Alberto Núñez Feijóo ofthe People's Party accused the Socialist Pedro Sánchez of agreeing with the European Parliament to bring back tolls. 

According to the Socialist government, they will not impose tolls on highways and roads. In fact, minister Raquel Sánchez adds that "a great part of Spain's road are toll-free thanks to the socialists."

Vox's MEP Jorge Buxadé, meanwhile, has asked the European Commission to confirm whether the EU has "obligated Spain to impose tolls in order to receive European funds."