Parliament Approves Draft Laws on Road Transport and Postage Service

Parliament approved two draft law amendments submitted by the Minister of Transport Josef Macejko. The first amendment cancels the State Road Development Fund and changes the classification of motor vehicles. Based on EU legislation the amendment cancels the up to 1.5 ton car category and introduces the following categories: up to 3.5 tons, up to 12 tons and above 12 tons. This change will also affect the prices of highway stickers. The second amendment concerns formation of postage services market and its regulation to maintain competition in unregulated postal services. Postal services will be provided by state owned Slovenska Posta, private transport companies, Zeleznice SR, the railway company, airlines, etc. The market will be controlled by Postovy Urad, an independent regulation office that will be established by January 1, 2002. One company will have to provide all postal services at regulated prices