Highway toll rate increases are a touchy subject. And while inflation is strangling French consumption, the next increase of around 5% scheduled for next February may well re-ignite the powder.
Especially since according to Le Canard Enchaîné of the day, the State would have buried a report that it would have commissioned itself in 2020 in which it recommends, among other things, a reduction in these prices. Reason given: Highway companies make “excess profits”.
This report was prepared by the General Inspectorate of Finance, and the inspection service of the Ministry of Ecology.
First option of the report: lower tariffs by 60%
According to this report obtained by the weekly, the operating companies of the highways and their tolls show a profitability of 12% while when the concession contracts were signed it was established that this profitability should not exceed 7.67%.
According to Bruno Le Maire’s entourage on BFMTV, “This report was requested in particular by Bruno Le Maire, so we’re not burying anything. This report was requested in the wake of a $1 billion highway tax increase. “.
And add that Le Canard’s article “says itself that the recommendations are not legally upheld.” In fact, the report would have recommended 3 options:
- an early end to the concessions in 2026;
- or a drastic drop in prices of almost 60% in two thirds of the network; or almost 40 euros in savings for a motorist who makes a Paris-Marseille;
- or even the withdrawal of the surplus by the State.
The only “legally conceivable” scenario is the first option, the report states.
Legally specific contracts
However, an early termination of the concessions in 2026 is technically possible, but Bercy claims that this scenario does not hold legally. The concessions would turn against the State, legally strong contracts in particular. Hence the prospect for the state of a lengthy legal battle with ultimately little chance of winning.
Bercy recognizes that some concessions, not all, exceed 7.67% profitability. But today it is not possible to impose concessions to lower their prices, according to the Ministry of Economy.
Therefore, we will have to wait for the renegotiation of the contracts and, according to those around Bruno Le Maire, the State will be very demanding in the discussions.
This case is likely to quickly take on a political dimension. On Twitter, Marine Le Pen explains that this report “proves us absolutely right about the outrageous profits made behind the backs of the French and the complicit passivity of @BrunoLeMaire. Time to pay motorists back!”
On the left, the deputies (LFI in particular) accuse the Minister of Economy of “complicity” with the highway companies.
Source: BFM TV
