Statements by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu at the beginning of the Government meeting

Statements by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu at the beginning of the Cabinet meeting

As I promised, we will approve today the first package of measures agreed upon with farmers and hauliers. I discussed with small farmers and hauliers protesting in the street, and with large associations in this sector. It is clear that protests were entitled, and the decisions we adopt, confirm that a large part of their demands are legitimate. I promised that we would solve the people's problems, and both I and members of the Cabinet will keep our word today.
Thus, regarding farmers, we have several projects. We extend direct aid of 100 euros per hectare to growers in the vegetable sector to compensate for losses suffered due to the war in Ukraine, for the fall of 2022 crops. The compensation payment per each agricultural enterprise cannot exceed 280,000 euros. We estimate over 162 thousand beneficiaries and a budgetary effort of almost 250 million euros, an amount already provided for in the budget. Our farmers fully deserve this compensation. In addition, I also thought it appropriate to ask for the equivalence between B and B1 driving license categories for tractor driving, so we will legislate it today.
At the same time, we also solve the problem of agricultural machinery, extending the exceptions from registration and periodic technical inspection to the slow vehicles category. Also, RAR(Romanian Automotive Registry) will be able to perform the ITP( Periodic Technical Inspection) on agricultural or forestry vehicles through mobile laboratories right on the farms premises. It is reasonable not to make the farmers take their machines from the field or forest and go to the RAR, but the exact opposite.
We still have an important measure in first reading: the temporary postponement of installments on the loans of farmers affected by the 2023 drought. I fully support this measure and I know that we are working together with the National Bank, as well as with the entire banking system and the Competition Council, to find the most suitable technical formulas. I am sure that we will also complete this aid scheme for the affected farmers very quickly.
I fully support the measure also in the field of transport, where we have some ordinances and government decisions agreed upon with the hauliers representatives. Thus, we change the way of carrying out control by weighing at the border crossing points and establishing limits, according to European legislation, regarding tolerance limits for trucks with excess load in transport.
We also clarify important elements agreed upon with hauliers regarding the periodic technical inspection of slow vehicles and the professional attestation of specialized road transport personnel. We correlate the provisions on the conclusion and enforcement of the transport contract for national transports with international norms. Specifically, we repeal the compensation limit in the case of the national contract modeled on an internationally recognized convention, the CMR. The compensation limit will be established by the will of the parties expressed in the transport contract. I firmly believe that this is how we re-enter an economic logic.
Today we also come with clearer provisions that regulate the examination of people who intend to obtain the initial attestation for drivers transporting people or goods. And as soon as new legislative acts are ready, from the set agreed together with farmers and hauliers, I agree to hold a Cabinet meeting at the end of this week or the beginning of next week. ASF has already publicly announced that together with hauliers it has found the way to a decent level of motor third-party liability insurance (MTPL) for freight transportation: it will be a sustainable price, including for small hauliers with 2-3 trucks that do not have the possibility of companies with large fleets. In addition, the RCA is allowed to be paid in installments and the insurance can be suspended while the truck is parked for a certain period for various reasons.
Finally, I want to thank the Ministers of Agriculture and Transport, Florin Barbu and Sorin Grindeanu, for the constant dialogue with farmers and hauliers, which, by the way, will continue.
Minister Boloș, we must re-enter this dialogue format, because I want to find solutions for other important topics, such as the partial refund of fuel excise to transport operators. Mr. Boloș was prompt after receiving signals at the meeting with the protesters regarding the problems in customs and proposed today to change the management of the Romanian Customs Authority with a person who I understand is taking over and I am sure that next week we will together ask the new management of Customs to come up with quick solutions to all the legitimate demands of farmers and hauliers. Thank you!

Source: Gov