The European Commission has given Bulgaria and 15 other EU countries a two-month deadline to fully implement EU rules on road tolls for trucks, linking them to the vehicles' carbon dioxide emissions. Failure to comply will result in criminal proceedings. 

The announcement notes that since 1999, EU rules have required that the use of the EU road network be paid for through vignettes or tolls, which cover the cost of building and maintaining roads. In 2022, these rules will be extended to cars and light commercial vehicles. EU countries are also required to charge tolls based on the carbon dioxide emissions of heavy goods vehicles. This measure is intended to encourage the use of newer, less polluting lorry models, according to the Commission.