The National Trade Union Bloc (BNS) welcomes the Government's decision to reduce the excise tax on diesel by 30 bani/liter, after the working group established at the governmental level to manage the fuel crisis made this decision on Thursday, following discussions with market operators.
According to a press release from the National Bank of Romania, the measure will have an immediate positive impact on prices at the pump and, implicitly, on the costs borne by the population and the business environment.
"At the same time, we appreciate the fact that the Executive adopts, even partially, a solution recommended by the NBS last week, namely the use of fiscal instruments - especially the reduction of excise duties - instead of administrative interventions in price formation," the union confederation's press release says.
At the same time, the NBS draws the Government's attention to the fact that there are no reasons to invoke possible budgetary losses as a result of this measure. Revenues from excise duties and VAT have already exceeded the estimates on the basis of which the budget was built, amid the accelerated increase in fuel prices. Under these conditions, it is natural that part of these additional revenues be returned to the real economy, the trade unionists argue.
"We consider that the current reduction in excise duty is a step in the right direction, but insufficient. The NBS maintains its request that excise duties return at least to the level at the end of 2025, a measure that would generate a more consistent decrease in prices and contribute to stabilizing the economy. The Romanian state must stop speculating on the crisis context and act in support of the economy and workers. In the absence of balanced fiscal policies, the costs of adjustments will continue to be borne by employees and companies, with the risk of deepening the recession and losing economic competitiveness," the BNS press release also states.
The government will approve the reduction of excise duty on diesel by 30 bani per liter, the measure being decided on Thursday.
"A reduction in the excise duty on diesel fuel by 30 bani per liter will be applied. At the same time, only one update per day of prices at the pump will be allowed. Following discussions with operators, it was concluded that other working options on the table would not have been applied uniformly and would have caused distortions in the fuel supply. At the same time, the establishment of the solution took into account Romania's budgetary limitations," a Government statement said.
The executive specifies that the funds necessary to reduce excise duties on diesel purchased by farmers and transporters, as well as to apply the reduction mechanism, will come from additional VAT revenues generated by the increase in fuel prices, from the over-taxation of profits obtained from the exploitation of Romanian crude oil and from the state budget.
"The decision of the working group is to be implemented through an emergency Ordinance that will be adopted in an extraordinary meeting of the Government, most likely on Friday. The measure decided on Thursday is added to those contained in Ordinance no. 19/2026, which has already led to a significant reduction in the price of diesel at most gas stations. The efficiency of the measures in force will be periodically evaluated to determine whether they need to be modified," according to the press release.
The working group includes Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, Deputy Prime Ministers Marian Neacsu and Tanczos Barna, Minister of Finance Alexandru Nazare, Minister of Energy Bogdan Ivan, and Minister of Economy Irineu Darău.
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