The Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE) is calling for the immediate reinstatement of the toll exemption for businesses in Thrace in a letter addressed to Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Christos Dimas and Deputy Minister Giorgos Kotsiras, noting that its abolition significantly increases the operating and transportation costs of local businesses and creates new obstacles to the region’s development prospects.
The letter expresses the confederation’s full support for the relevant request by the Thrace Federation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (OETH), while emphasizing that the de facto abolition of the toll exemption following the concession of the Egnatia Highway’s management deprives the local market of an important support mechanism.
The Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE) points out that the toll exemption did not constitute preferential treatment, but a reasonable measure to offset the geographical and operational disadvantages of a remote region with increased transportation needs and long distances from the country’s main commercial and administrative centers. This additional burden increases the cost of transporting goods, limits the competitiveness of the local market, and acts as a deterrent to development and investment in the region.
As Stavros Kafounis, president of the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE), states, “Supporting entrepreneurship in remote regions cannot be merely a stated goal; it must be reflected in specific policies that strengthen their competitiveness and growth potential. The toll exemption for Thrace was an essential measure to compensate for the region’s unique geographical conditions and helped keep businesses’ operating costs in check.
The government must immediately take the necessary legislative or administrative steps to reinstate this measure in order to prevent further strain on the local economy. Maintaining the competitiveness of businesses in Thrace is a fundamental prerequisite for strengthening regional development, employment, and social cohesion in a region of particular national and economic significance.”