Drivers and entrepreneurs crossing the Danube Bridge between Bulgaria and Romania expressed again their dissatisfaction before a BTA correspondent about the subsequent increase of the bridge toll and the bad maintenance of the road facility.

The Bulgarian tax, which is collected by the Republican Road Infrastructure Fund has been increased from 6 to 8 euro since the beginning of the year. The Romanian charge was increased to 7.5 euro this month, drivers showed receipts. Charges for passage of buses and heavy trucks are also increased significantly.

The passengers are unhappy about the fact that the collected sums are not used for the maintenance of the road lanes. According to them, only some cosmetic repairs to the asphalt
were made a few days ago.

On February 5, in Bucharest European Commissioner for Consumers Meglena Kuneva expressed her shock at the bridge tax that was not only continuing to be implemented for those crossing the Danube at Rousse-Giurgiu a full year since the two countries' single market accession, but was even raised for 2008.

"Such a thing does not exist anywhere in the EU," Kuneva said. This tax artificially hinders ties between the citizens of the EU, she added.