After PM Kiril Petkov's meeting with hauliers: There will be a protest tomorrow, but the dialogue has been restored

Prime Minister, Kiril Petkov, on May 17, held talks with representatives of the transport industry in an attempt to find a solution to the problems in the sector, a day before the announced nationwide protest.

We had a three-hour conversation between the transport industry and the government. We spent three hours in constructive dialogue with the idea of finding solutions, not confrontation. If we want Bulgaria to prosper, the dialogue must be respected by all parties, Kiril Petkov stressed.

We have restored the dialogue, a lot of work is ahead of us, the PM further said.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Regional Development Minister, Grozdan Karadzhov, and Transport Minister, Nikolai Sabev.

The measures proposed by the government include a reduction in the price of biofuels for July, August and September, the abolition of excise duty on natural gas and methane, and a reduction in VAT to 9% on these fuels.

There will also be legislative changes to the toll system and the subsidisation of public transport.

The hauliers are demanding that the extension of the toll system and the reduction of the excise duty on fuels be cancelled. So far, both public transport workers in Sofia and taxi drivers have declared that they will join the protest tomorrow. Employers said they remain in protest readiness but will not join for now, having reached an agreement with the cabinet yesterday on expected compensation.