In a written answer on 20 July 2026, Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas told the European Parliament that EU legislation does not prevent the reduction of motorway tunnels to a single lane for safety checks, nor does it require toll reductions when traffic restrictions are in place. The reply, addressed to S&D MEP Sakis Arnaoutoglou, rejects the suggestion that the private concessionaire's measures on the Igoumenitsa-Panagia section of the Egnatia Odos violate EU tunnel safety, trans-European transport network rules, or competition law.
The Commissioner cited Directive 2004/54/EC on tunnel safety, Regulation (EU) 2024/1679 on TEN-T guidelines, and Directive 2008/96/EC on road infrastructure safety management, stating none forbid reducing lanes to one. On tolls, he noted that Directive 1999/62/EC only caps heavy-duty vehicle tolls at infrastructure cost recovery levels and contains no condition linking toll levels to traffic restrictions. The Commission has not assessed the measures and does not plan to challenge them, as traffic organisation falls under national competence.
The answer is purely declaratory, offering no new policy proposals, numerical targets, or deadlines. It signals that the Commission considers the matter a national responsibility and will not intervene. Institutional follow-up is unlikely unless the Hellenic Competition Commission or a Greek court refers a case to the European Court of Justice. The reply leaves Greek motorway users without EU-level recourse on toll proportionality, while affirming member states' discretion over road management.
Greek motorists continue paying full tolls for reduced service, with no EU remedy. The private concessionaire benefits from legal certainty that EU law does not mandate toll rebates. National authorities retain full control over traffic safety measures. The Commission avoids a politically sensitive intervention in a member state's road concession.