Radio România Internațional

Tag: excises

January 2, 2024

PRICE HIKES The new year has brought a
series of fiscal amendments to the Romanians, ranging from new VAT rises to other
majored excises and taxes. Fines have also been raised, and companies reporting
over 50 million euros in turnover will pay taxes of at least one percent of
their turnover. Tobacco excises have been raised and there are VAT raises
between 9 and 19 % for certain products and services. A special tax has been
introduced for expensive goods, such as houses and cars as well as raised
excises for sweet products. Fuel excises have also been raised and experts
believe the new fiscal measures will translate into a higher inflation and a depreciated
local currency against the Euro. Romania’s budget deficit this year has been
estimated at 5% of the GDP with an economic growth of 3.4%. 7% of the country’s
GDP has been earmarked for investment.

QUAKE Authorities in Japan are in
a battle against time in their attempt to find survivors after the 7.6
magnitude earthquake on Monday, which was followed by many aftershocks.
According to provisional tolls, scores have been killed and hundreds of
buildings destroyed. Numerous fires caused by broken pipelines have been
reported in the north of the Noto peninsula, close to the quake’s epicenter. As
temperatures went below zero at night, rescuers are making great efforts to
find survivors.

GAZA Israel has pulled out its
tanks from some parts of the Gaza city announcing a new stage in its war
against the terrorist group Hamas. The new change in Israel’s tactics involves
the partial pull out of its troops from the Gaza Strip and an increased focus
on smaller-scale targeted operations. Israel says one of the key objectives is
the complete elimination of the Hamas threat and the release of the hostages
still kept by the famous terrorist group. According to Radio Romania
correspondent in Israel, the attempts to release the Israeli hostages, which seemed
to be compromised at a certain point, have these days been given a fresh
impetus thanks to the mediation efforts of Qatar and Egypt. The war in Gaza,
which broke out after the attack on Israel masterminded and conducted by the
terrorist group Hamas on October 7, when 12 hundred people were killed and 240
kidnapped, has so far caused the death of roughly 22 thousand Palestinians in
the Gaza Strip. At the same time, most of the region’s 2.3 million people
residents has been displaced.

WEATHER The
weather remains warm in Romania with temperatures higher than those usually
registered at this time of the year. Showers have been reported in small areas
in the country’s south-east. Wind has intensified at higher altitudes in the
mountainous area of the Eastern and Western Carpathians. The highs of the day
are ranging between 4 and 12 degrees Celsius while the capital city Bucharest
reports higher temperatures than usual for the winter season, of at least 10-11
degrees Celsius.

(bill)

2 January 2024
July 5, 2022

CODE
The latest amendments to Romania’s Fiscal Code have been in the so-called
decisional transparency phase until Friday and are to be endorsed by the
government next week. Among the amendments agreed upon by the PSD-PNL-UDMR
government coalition with the declared purpose of increasing state revenues,
are those focusing on raising tobacco and alcohol excise duties, the VAT in the
hospitality industry and property owner’s taxes. Gambling revenues up to 3,000
RON will be taxed by 10%, those between 3,000 and 10,000 RON by 20% and those
over 10,000 RON by 40%. According to government sources, another measure envisages
a 5% VAT for purchased houses with a maximum value of 600 thousand RON and a
surface up to 120 square meters. Other amendments are expected to increase house
owner’s taxes by 60%. Taxes in the hospitality industry may also change so they
may not be lower than 1% of the turnover starting next year.

REFUGEES According to the General Border Police Inspectorate, 107,837
people entered Romania on Monday, out of whom 9854 are Ukrainian citizens.
Since February 10th 2022, two weeks before the Russian invasion,
1,457,561 Ukrainian nationals have entered Romania.

SPORTS 494 swimmers from 42 countries are competing in the European Junior Swimming
Championships underway in Bucharest until July 10. The host country, Romania,
is being represented by 26 athletes, 14 boys and 12 girls including the double
world champion in the 100 and 200 meters freestyle race, David Popovici. The 17
year old champion has already qualified for the semifinals of the 200 meter
freestyle race. Aissia Claudia Prisecariu and Rebecca-Aimee Diaconescu have
qualified for the women’s 50 meter backstroke race while Ana Maria Sibiseanu
has qualified for the semifinals of the women’s 200 meter freestyle race.

TENNIS US
tennis player Amanda Anisimova will be playing Romanian Simona Halep in the
quarter finals of the Grand Slam tennis tournament in Wimbledon. In the round
of 16, Halep secured a 6-1, 6-2 win against Paola Badosa of Spain, while
Anisimova defeated Harmony Tan of France 6-2, 6-3. A former world leader, Halep
won the 2019 of Wimbledon and a year earlier the one in Roland Garros.

FOOTBALL Romania’s football champions CFR Cluj are tonight taking on Pyunik
Yerevan of Armenia in the first round of the Champions League qualifiers. The return
game is due in Cluj next week. If CFR qualify for the second round, they will
be playing the winner of the double match pitching F91 Dudelange of Luxembourg
and KF Tirana of Albania. If eliminated, the Romanians will be playing in the
Europa Conference League, which brings together Levadia Tallinn of Estonia,
Vikingur Reykjavik of Iceland, La Fiorita of San Marino and Inter Club
d’Escaldes of Andorra. In Europa League, FCSB will be playing the winner of the
game pitching FC Saburtalo of Georgia against Partizani Tirana of Albania;
Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe, winner of the Romanian Cup will be playing the winner of
the match opposing Olympia Ljubljana and Differdange 03 of Luxembourg.
Universitatea Craiova will be up against KF Vllaznia Shkoder, which won the Cup
of Albania.

(bill)

5 July 2022
Fuel excises and prices

As of Friday, the excise duty on fuels is higher by some 3.5 Eurocents per liter. Another similar increase will be operated on October 1st. The measure, aimed at bringing more money to the state budget, was taken by the leftist Government although early this year the extra excise duty of 7 Eurocents per liter had been eliminated.

In support of this latest decision, the Romanian Finance Minister Ionut Misa said that, this summer, the petrol price in Romania was the lowest in the whole of the EU and the price of diesel was the third lowest. He has also said that the decision to raise the excise fuels in two stages was taken in order to avoid a shock in terms of consumption, which would trigger price rises. However, financial analysts argue that this will certainly have a domino effect in the Romanian economy. Analyst Cristian Paun explains:

Cristian Paun: “ An increase in the extra excise duty will be reflected in prices. Fuels are related to every type of transportation and production. Therefore, when we see a product on a store’s shelf, it is clear that fuel was used to produce it and to transport it. Not to mention the customer who went to the store by car or bus to buy it. This extra duty does not but reflect the crisis the state budget is in, and the effects envisaged are short lived. Therefore, it could be seen as a solution in the short run, but in the long run it will clearly be damaging, because it will not help develop any sector of the economy.”

The National Union of Romanian Employers’ Association strongly disapproves the Government’s measure, saying that all prices of goods and services will go up, and this might even trigger a growth in the inflation rate, after a period of relative stability. The Union draws attention to the fact that many carriers will have to close their businesses and thus jobs will be lost.

The carriers’ discontent is also amplified by the fact that even before the introduction of the additional duty, the prices of fuels went up with no reason. To ease tension a little bit, Prime Minister Mihai Tudose has announced that next week the Government will hold a meeting on this very issue. Specialists believe that the growth is artificial, imposed by the big chains of gas stations in the country, and not a natural consequence of price evolution at global level.

15 September 2017
August 27 – September 2

Top diplomatic meeting in Romania

President Klaus Iohannis has presented the main objectives of Romanian foreign policy in a meeting with heads of diplomatic missions and general consuls abroad. He did so at the Annual Meeting of Romanian Diplomats held this past week in Bucharest. He told the attendees that they were in the best position to support the transatlantic relationship, and emphasized the fact that Romania has to have a unified approach in relation to Russia. The challenges and threats from the east, as well as risks from the south remain the same, said the president, calling on diplomats to have a quick, responsible, and innovative involvement. The head of state also said that the same involvement is needed in terms of domestic challenges within the EU, such as the Brexit and the relaunch of the European project, saying that Romania should contribute actively to the process of reflection regarding the future of the union. Iohannis believes that Europe needs to be stronger, closer to its citizens, with a better presence worldwide:

Klaus Iohannis: “We should stand next to those member states that act to consolidate the Union. The closer we are to this core of nations, the more we can rely on the European process of decision making, and have better opportunities for development. Europe needs to be at its best in terms of ability to adapt, in order to overcome its present challenges. The instruments of this adaptation should be designed so that development gaps between member states be avoided.

Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu said that the preparation for the centennial of the Great Union, the Romanian presidency of the EU, to be taken over in 2019, the candidacy of the country for membership as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, and OECD candidacy are the main aims of Romanian diplomats. He added that Romania should take on greater responsibilities in European economic diplomacy, and to better make use of its potential. He spoke of the need to diversify trade relations by engaging emerging regions, by regaining traditional markets, and opening new ones, with potential for growth.

Changes in justice regulations spark discontent

The recently proposed changes in the legal framework surrounding the judicial system have sparked strong reactions from various institutions, as well as street protests. The prosecutors with the National Anti-Corruption Directorate have warned that some of the proposals made by the line minister, such as putting judicial investigations under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice of creating a specialized structure for investigating magistrates, may affect the independence and proper functioning of relevant institutions, representing a form of pressure on investigators. Prosecutors are upset at the fact that the judiciary may become politicized, reducing the prerogatives of the NAD. Among the proposals that have sparked protests are the exclusion of the president of the country from the process of appointing the General Prosecutor and the czars of anti-corruption and organized crime directorates. PM Mihai Tudose, mindful of the visibly unfavorable reactions of experts and public opinion, promised that passing the bill would depend on the endorsement of the Higher Council of Magistracy, as well as public opinion. In the meantime, the opposition is preparing a number of actions in parliament. The Save Romania Uion announced it would file a simple censure motion against the minister of justice, and the Liberals said they were considering one as well, but that they were waiting for an opportune moment.

Excises go up for fuel

This autumn, excises are up for petrol and Diesel fuel, as ordered by the executive in Bucharest. In order to avoid shocks created by the price increase, the move will be in two stages, the first on September 15 and the second on October 1st. According to Finance Minister Ionut Misa, a sudden increase in prices may cause people to consume less, reducing budget revenue. Transportation companies criticized the government’s decision, saying that this paints a bleak picture for the Romanian transportation sector. They claim that even a Eurocent increase would directly affect the competitiveness of Romanian companies in road transportation.

A new parliamentary session has started in Bucharest

Romanian senators and deputies have returned from the summer recess. The first day of work, September 1, has been devoted to organizational matters, with debates on legislative initiatives only starting next week. Parliaments agenda includes debates on emergency ordinances on setting a maximum threshold for the special pensions, a cap of nearly 1,900 euros per month on child rearing indemnity, a 10% increase in police worker salaries and a 15% rise in the salaries of civilian personnel working with national security institutions. The draft law on compulsory immunization, the new pensions law and the laws regulating the judicial system are also to be discussed in parliament.

(translated by: Elena Enache, Calin Cotoiu)

2 September 2017
August 31, 2017

DIPLOMACY – The Annual Meeting of Romanian Diplomacy continues in Bucharest today with a conference on the role of the Romanian business community in economic diplomacy. During Wednesdays meeting with the Romanian ambassadors and consuls abroad, President Klaus Iohannis called on diplomats to promote the rule of law and focus on protecting the rights and interests of the Romanian citizens abroad. The head of state also discussed the importance of the strategic partnership with the United States and urged the Romanian diplomats to support the trans-Atlantic relation. This years meeting of Romanian diplomats was themed A changing world: the goals of Romanias foreign policy.

EXCISES – Romanian carriers criticise the Governments decision to increase fuel excises, and predict dark times will come for Romanian transports. The Romanian Federation of Transport Operators says each additional eurocent in the price of petrol and diesel will have a direct impact on the competitiveness of Romanian road carriers and will force many international transport operators to buy fuel from abroad. On Wednesday the Government decided to increase fuel excises in 2 stages, as of September 15 and October 1, respectively. Finance Minister Ionuţ Mişa explained that the measure would be introduced gradually so as not to generate a shock, consisting in higher prices and lower consumption, which would affect the state budget.

LANGUAGE DAY – Today is the Romanian Language day, celebrated on the last day of August since 2013. On this occasion, the Ministry for the Romanian diaspora is organising in Bucharest, in a partnership with the Romanian Academy, a conference on Romanian language revival and renewal in the diaspora, while the Romanian Cultural Institute organises activities in major cities abroad. Conferences, roundtables, book launches, recitals and exhibitions are organised in Istanbul, New York, Madrid, Tel Aviv and Warsaw. The Romanian Language Day is also celebrated in the Republic of Moldova, and according to the ambassador of Romania to Chisinau, Daniel Ioniţă, this is further proof of the profound unity of the people living on the two banks of Prut River.

JUDICIARY – The Romanian Justice Ministry has made public the bill modifying the laws on the judiciary, on which Minister Tudorel Toader has requested the official opinion of the Superior Council of Magistrates. The bill, which is intended to make the management of courts and prosecutor offices more efficient, stipulates changes primarily in terms of the professional assessment, promotion, and appointment to senior positions of staff in the judicial system. Some of the changes announced a while ago by Minister Tudorel Toader concern the appointment of the prosecutor general and of the chief prosecutors of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate and the Directorate Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism by the Superior Council of Magistrates based on a nomination by the Justice Minister, and the setup of a special directorate to investigate offences committed by magistrates. The measures have been criticised and prompted street protests. The National Anti-Corruption Directorate says this is a form of pressure on the work of prosecutors, while the Prosecutor General, Augustin Lazar, says that if endorsed, the bill would affect the independence of magistrates and the activity of judicial institutions.

FOOTBALL – Romanias national football team is preparing for the game against Armenia, to be played on Friday on home turf, and the one against Montenegro away from home on Monday, as part of the preliminary Group E of next years World Football Cup hosted by Russia. The unchallenged leader of the group is Poland, with 16 points, followed by Montenegro and Denmark, with 10 points each, Romania and Armenia, 6, and Kazakhstan, with 2 points. In this preliminary campaign, the Romanian team is for the first time in its history managed by a foreign coach, the German Cristoph Daum.

(translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

31 August 2017