Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan stated on Wednesday that work is being “seriously” done on support measures to ensure fair behavior on the fuel market, noting that additional revenues obtained from VAT, as a result of fuel price increases, will not remain in the budget, but will be introduced in a financing scheme. In the first Government meeting (of Thursday, March 26 – e.n.), an Emergency Ordinance will be approved to allow intervention in the market and ensure security of supply, and new measures will be taken next week, according to News.ro.
“Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and representatives of employers’ associations held consultations today on the intervention measures necessary to support the population and the economy, in the context of the increase in fuel prices, determined by the international situation. The discussions took place within the framework of the National Tripartite Council for Social Dialogue, convened at the Victoria Palace, to which representatives of the unions were also invited,” the Government said in a press release.
According to the cited document, the Prime Minister “underlined that the package of government measures will have as principles the sharing of costs between the Government, the private sector and citizens and the adoption of intervention solutions with minimal collateral effects in the market, transparent and easy to apply”.
“The Romanian state assumes its share of responsibility: the additional revenues obtained from VAT, as a result of the fuel price increases, will not remain in the budget, but will be introduced into a financing scheme that will mitigate the impact of the price increase, taking into account Romania’s capacity”, Prime Minister Bolojan stated.
The Head of the Executive mentioned that in order to support the transport and agriculture sectors, the Government has extended the support schemes and, in the case of transporters, increased the amounts granted in the form of reimbursement of part of the excise duty on fuel.
According to data transmitted by the Executive, the impact of the application of the two support schemes is over 1 billion lei.
“Also, with the approval of the budget, payment flows for settlements within these support schemes will be ensured, so as to recover the delays in settlement reported by the employers’ organizations”, the Government also announces.
The Executive specifies that the draft Emergency Ordinance, which will prepare the intervention on the fuel market and ensure the security of supply, was presented by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and the Minister of Energy, Bogdan Ivan.
“We assure citizens and social partners that we are working seriously on support measures to ensure correct behavior on the fuel market, given the developments on international markets. In the first Government meeting, we will approve an Emergency Ordinance that will allow intervention in the market and ensure security of supply for citizens and the economy, and next week we will come up with a new set of solutions,” the Prime Minister said.
The Head of the Executive analyzed, together with the social partners, the measures recently taken by other European states regarding the fuel market, given the increased volatility and dynamics.
“The representatives of the employers’ associations have shown their openness to contribute to the decisions prepared by the authorities, so that they are correct, easy to apply and encourage responsible behavior for all market actors. Specifically, the employers’ associations will work together with the representatives of the ministries to finalize the package of measures and to develop the implementing rules, emphasizing that it is important that this be the result of the most extensive consultation process possible,” the government statement also states.
The meeting of the National Tripartite Council for Social Dialogue took place on Wednesday, without the presence of the unions.