The president of the Hauliers Association of the Croatian Primorska-Goranska County, Marinko Juršević, told today's edition of the Večernji List daily, that the registration fees for semi-trailers for using public roads in Croatia stand at around 6,800 kunas (888 euros). In Slovenia they stand between 120 and 150 euros.

Registering a truck in Croatia has reached astronomical levels – the fee for using public roads can cost up to 8,500 kunas, or 1,100 euros. Truck owners lower much of their business costs by opening a firm and registering semi-trailers in Slovenia. It is also cheaper to register a truck in Hungary, but Večernji List writes that many Croatians opt for Slovenia due to the similarity in languages.

The Croatian Hauliers Association has also confirmed the increased number of registered semi-trailers in Slovenia. It says that almost 280 out of the 4500 Croatian semi-trailers are registered in Slovenia.

According to the Croatian Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure, the yearly fees for using public roads have increased in the last couple of years due to the higher costs for maintaining the a little less than 19.000 kilometers of local roads and their expansion. New regulations for better road safety have also contributed to the higher costs.

T. K. B. ; translated by K. J.