site.btaCaretaker Regional Minister Meets Protesting Road Assistance Operators

Caretaker Regional Development Minister Nikolay Naydenov met with representatives of the Association of Specialized Road Assistance Providers in Bulgaria, who staged a protest earlier on Thursday, the ministry's press office said.

Naydenov said the Road Infrastructure Agency is responsible for building and maintaining safe national roads, but should not provide transport services. "Road assistance is a matter for the free market," he added, calling for clear rules to ensure road safety.

The meeting discussed setting up a working group with institutional experts and industry representatives to develop a mechanism for providing roadside assistance under fair market conditions.

The minister also committed to reviewing European practices on the issue.

Earlier, Naydenov held a separate meeting with other road assistance companies that distanced themselves from the association.