Spain • 🌿 Progressive

Millions of Spanish citizens demand end to toll exploitation on key highways

Millions of Spanish citizens demand end to toll exploitation on key highways

Castilla y León, Galicia, and Asturias demanded the EU force the Spanish Government to liberalize highways AP-66 and AP-9, routes used by millions of people…

Millions of users and thousands of businesses across northwest Spain have endured decades of excessive costs from tolls on two strategic highways: AP-66 and AP-9. This week, Castilla y León, Galicia, and Asturias escalated pressure directly to Brussels through the Declaration of Compostela, demanding the EU force the Spanish Government to terminate concessions that generate private profits from public infrastructure. According to ABC, the regional alliance includes business organizations that also suffer operational cost burdens. 🔹 What happened: The three autonomous regions jointly presented a complaint to the European Commission demanding intervention in procedures regarding concession extensions for AP-66 (León-Asturias) and AP-9 (Ferrol-Portugal). The document emphasizes that the private toll regime directly impacts millions of people and thousands of businesses, constraining competitiveness and territorial mobility. 🔹 Key players: Castilla y León, Galicia, and Asturias act as a coordinated pressure bloc. Regional business organizations support the demand. The Spanish Government appears as the required executor. Brussels is called upon to intervene in a concessional model generating private rents from strategic infrastructure. 🔹 Why it matters: Tolls limit equitable access to transport infrastructure. SMEs and self-employed workers pay recurring cost overruns affecting operational margins. Territorial cohesion weakens when less-populated regions carry tolls financing private operators. Thousands of businesses pay fees that represent public responsibility. 🔹 What to expect: Brussels will assess whether concessions comply with EU competition norms. The Government must respond to coordinated regional pressure. If Brussels orders liberalization, tolls would be eliminated for millions of users within timelines dependent on negotiations with current concessionaires. 📌 EPM Take: The three regions transfer pressure from national governments to Brussels, seeking to force liberalization of routes thousands of small entrepreneurs use daily with costs reducing their competitiveness. ✍️ EPM Editorial Desk | erickprometeomedia.com
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