In a written statement to parliament, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs David Rutley listed foreign diplomatic missions with debts of more than 100,000 pounds (116.5 thousand euros).
Portugal ranks 65th out of 85 embassies, with a debt of 325,240 pounds (378,800 euros) since February 2003, when the tax was introduced, until the end of 2022.
Agência Lusa contacted the Portuguese embassy to get a response, but the diplomatic representation declined to comment on the situation.
At the top of the list is the American embassy, which has built up a debt of 14.6 million pounds (about 17 million euros).
According to the document, Mozambique owes 864,180 pounds (about one million euros), and Equatorial Guinea 557,690 (650 thousand euros).
In total, foreign diplomatic missions owe more than 145 million pounds (170 million euros) to Transport for London (TfL), the entity responsible for the transport network in the British capital.
“We believe that there are no legal grounds for exempting diplomatic missions and international organizations from the London Congestion Charge, which is similar to a parking charge or toll that they must pay,” Rutley wrote.
Embassies have invoked the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which exempts diplomats from paying certain taxes, to claim relief from this burden.
However, the British executive has a different interpretation of the Convention, stating that “diplomats have a duty to respect the laws and regulations of the host country”.
“The UK Government therefore expects all diplomatic missions to respect UK laws and regulations, including the payment of the congestion charge,” the Deputy Foreign Secretary concluded.
The congestion charge [Congestion Charge] is a daily surcharge of 15 pounds (17.5 euros) for cars driving within the designated area in central London between 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday and 12pm to 6pm on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays.
The measure was introduced in February 2003 to reduce car traffic in the city center.
Source: DN
