The automotive sector represented at the national level by the Romanian Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACAROM) declares itself shocked by the new fiscal budget measures aimed at the Rabla and Rabla Plus (scrappage) schemes, announced in the draft Emergency Ordinance published by the Ministry of Finance on Thursday."After the adoption of some fiscal measures that were not previously discussed with the business environment, which directly impact the automotive sector (taxation with 1% of turnover, tax on micro-enterprises, etc.), we've learned with astonishment that the Ministry of Finance (the Government of Romania) is proposing new measures the enforcement of which will seriously impact the automotive sector in Romania. Thus, the change in a completely unforeseen and unbalanced way of the amount of vouchers offered under the Rabla scheme (to half of the current value) and the Rabla Plus scheme (to 1/5 of the current value) will lead to a collapse of the new vehicle market, combined with an exponential increase in the import of used vehicles. In 2023, we expect the new car market to reach 145,000 units, with the major contribution of the Rabla and Rabla Plus schemes," claim ACAROM representatives, in a press release sent on Thursday.According to the source, under the conditions of the announced measures, these schemes lose their attractiveness and thus the forecast for 2024 is disastrous, i.e. a market of new vehicles of a maximum of 80,000 units, with a direct negative impact on jobs in the sector and the turnover of Romanian companies from the automotive field."At the same time, we emphasize that the decrease in the values of the vouchers granted through the 2 scrappage schemes will affect the possibility of Romanian citizens to purchase new, less polluting vehicles. Thus, the beneficial effect of the running of the schemes in previous years is canceled: the increase in the share of hybrid, electrified and electric vehicles, having as a direct consequence, the increase in imports of second-hand, more polluting and unsafe vehicles," the professional association mentions.
The European Commission (EC) announced on Thursday, December 11, that it is referring Romania to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) for failing to meet obligations under Ambient Air Quality Directives. According to the Commission, Romania has not ensured that its national air quality monitoring network complies with legally required standards on […]
The Bucharest Court of Appeal (CAB) held an unprecedented press conference on Thursday, December 11, in response to allegations raised in a recent media investigation published by Recorder, with court president Liana Arsenie firmly rejecting the claims. However, at the start of the press event, a judge from within the institution publicly stated that the […]
Romania’s Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) issued its first response to the Recorder documentary alleging systemic manipulation within the justice system, calling the investigation an amplification of a “campaign to destabilize judicial authority.” The council said on Thursday, December 11, that it will evaluate what measures need to be taken following the report. In a […]
MedLife, Romania’s largest private medical services network, announced on Wednesday, December 10, that it reached a market capitalization of EUR 1 billion on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB). The milestone secures its position as “the most valuable healthcare company” in the country. The achievement came nine years after MedLife’s listing on BVB in December 2016, […]
The Buzău Land UNESCO Global Geopark in Romania has become a “living laboratory” this week as a team of American researchers arrived to study microorganisms capable of surviving in extreme environments. The scientists, part of the interdisciplinary research organisation The Two Frontiers Project, are examining methane seeps, sulfur and petroleum springs, saline sources, and other […]
A moose has been unexpectedly spotted in the Hunedoara county area, specialists from the conservation group Rewilding Romania announced on Wednesday, December 10, sharing footage of the animal on social media. The sighting is considered “an important discovery for Romania’s wildlife,” though experts caution that it remains unclear how the animal reached this region. According […]
