VZCZCXRO9033
PP RUEHIK
DE RUEHSL #0535 3651432
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 311432Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0320
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHSL/AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA 0377

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000535 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/CE FOR J. MOORE AND M. LIBBY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ELTN LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAK TRUCKERS THREATEN BLOCKADE OVER TOLLS 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1. Slovak truckers are threatening to block gas stations 
nationwide to protest the new electronic toll system that is to 
be activated on January 1.  Dissident members of the national 
trucking association are trying to force the government to 
reduce prices for installation of dashboard tolling equipment as 
well as the tolls themselves.  While the truckers have won a 
small concession on the installation charges, the blockade is 
going forward on January 4.  End summary. 
 
Protesting High Prices 
---------------------- 
 
¶2. After several days of threats and months of acrimonious 
debate, dissident members of the Association of Road Transport 
Companies (CESMAD), which represents 1,100 trucking companies, 
are threatening to block gas stations on January 4, the first 
working day of the new year.  The immediate cause of the threats 
is the price of installing a dashboard electronics unit which 
measures distance traveled on motorways.  The unit is required 
to be in every truck and bus (over 3.5 tons) using Slovak toll 
roads after January 1, though many truckers have delayed their 
installation in hopes of a price reduction.  The delays have 
given those who delayed more to complain about, since they face 
mounting time pressure to get the units installed at one of only 
eight authorized outlets.  As of December 28, some 50,000 trucks 
and buses had been equipped and registered for the new toll 
system, and the numbers are growing quickly.  In a meeting on 
December 30, the truckers managed to wring a concession from 
Minister of Transportation Lubomir Vazny, lowering the price 
from EUR 134 to EUR 112. 
 
¶3. Vazny did not concede to the truckers' second demand, a reset 
of the tolling rates and methodology.  They complain that the 
system charges too much for delivery vehicles that hop on and 
off the motorways frequently, as opposed to vehicles that run up 
high mileage on the highways.  This issue in particular has 
caused the smaller, more local firms to split from the larger 
companies--overwhelmingly long-haul truckers--who are perceived 
as controlling CESMAD.  As part of the protest, the dissidents 
are now saying they will start another association to represent 
their own interests. 
 
¶4. As things stand at midday December 31, the dissident members 
have backed down from earlier threats to blockade the borders 
and gas stations; they now plan to "meet" at gas stations 
throughout the country on January 4 to "discuss the situation" 
and "inform the public" about their grievances.  What this means 
in practice is anybody's guess, but it is certain that the 
truckers will go to these discussion groups in their big trucks. 
 This will result in a near-blockade that will make it necessary 
for motorists who can get through lines of trucks at station 
entrances to deal with truckers armed at least with leaflets. 
Vazny has promised to resume discussions with the truckers on 
Monday. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶5. This protest is only the latest in the much-debated 
electronic tolling system's brief history.  For over a year, the 
government has defended the selection of a Slovak-French 
consortium, SkyToll, to build the system.  SkyToll submitted the 
highest of three qualified bids, with a spread of 15 percent 
above the next highest bidder.  Despite some interest from the 
EC and protests from the losing bidders, the project has gone 
ahead with little review or audit.  The protests over steadily 
rising toll estimates have marred the new system still further, 
as has the decision to limit it for the first year or more to 
heavy transport, the most lucrative segment of traffic on the 
roads.  Passenger cars will be on the existing vignette 
(windshield sticker) system for at least another year.  What 
will be in effect a nationwide strike next Monday will be a 
fitting launch for the project. 
 
EDDINS