“Increase in the price of vignette stickers seems dramatic but is actually far below what is needed,” said Alexander Nenkov, MP with mandate-holder Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (CEDB), speaking Wednesday for the Bulgarian National Television (BNT).

Protests have been staged in some places in Bulgaria after the price hike was announced a week ago.

“I have the feeling the serious problem we are faced with is not quite understood. The price of vignette stickers has not been hiked since 2008 as Bulgaria, being an EU member state, could avail of large funding to build and rehabilitate its roads, motorways, and others. The improvements seen in the past years are namely due to European funding but we should be aware less and less money will come from now on from the EU for the rehabilitation of these roads,” Nenkov commented.

“Revenues from vignette stickers amount to some 220 million per year; provided we have national road infrastructure of 20,000 km, the real sum needed for maintenance of these roads is estimated at some 600 million,” the lawmaker pointed out.

Annual vignette for cars and freight vehicles weighing up to BGN 3.5 tonnes will rise from BGN 67 to BGN 97. The price of the monthly vignette will be hiked from BGN 25 to BGN 30, while the price of the weekly one will increase from BGN 10 to BGN 15. The new price of vignette stickers enters into force as of December 10, 2015.