Technological development in transport must go hand in hand with precise regulations and guaranteed passenger safety. This was stated by the Minister of Transport and Communications, Georgi Peev, at the informal meeting of European Union transport ministers held in Dublin, according to the Ministry of Transport's press center.
Participants at the meeting discussed the integration of digital technologies into the sector and road safety. They also discussed ways to mitigate the consequences of the fuel crisis, the ministry noted.
Speaking to his colleagues, Peev drew attention to the opportunities offered by connected and autonomous vehicles. He pointed out that Bulgaria supports the establishment of a common European framework, "Single System," but added that new technologies must be introduced step by step and only after their reliability has been proven. The Minister suggested that it is worth considering the creation of a separate European agency to monitor new technologies and assist member states in updating their legislation.
Another topic at the forum was the energy shock and its impact on transport. According to Peev, Bulgaria supports common measures at the EU level. These would preserve transport connectivity between countries and help European carriers remain competitive on the international market, the ministry's press center reported.
When the discussion turned to the transition to cleaner energy, the Bulgarian Minister emphasized the need for investment in clean technologies and the reduction of carbon emissions in the transport sector. "These investments will lead to a reduction in external energy dependencies—a step that is a direct matter of security today," said Georgi Peev.
It is worth noting that last Friday, the government presented a package of measures to address high fuel prices, with a total value exceeding 300 million euros. One of the planned steps is the abolition of the excise duty on propane-butane. Additionally, financial support in the form of subsidies is planned for key sectors, including public transport, as well as student and patient transportation.