The black market of cigarettes reached 10.4% of the total of consumption, in May this year, up by 9.8% in March, shows a study made by the research company Novel.According to data released by JTI on Monday, this is the highest level of smuggling since January 2020. The survey reveals that cigarette smuggling in May 2024 saw the highest increase in the Northeast, up 5.2 percentage points to 26.5%, followed by the Southeast (+2.6 percentage points to 7.4%), In terms of the origin of black market products, Duty Free continues to account for the largest share (36.3%), followed by the Republic of Moldova (up 7.4 p.p. to 23.3%) and Bulgaria (22.1%, up 1.6 p.p.). At the same time, the information centralized on the stopcontrabanda.ro platform, from the beginning of the year to date, shows that the authorities have seized some 34 million smuggled cigarettes, 75% of which in the south of the country. Compared to other European countries, there is a clear correlation between accessibility and the black market, with the highest rates in Ireland at 24.4% and France at 32.4%, according to the published statistics. In terms of penalties, in the first five months of the year, the Romanian Border Police seized about 1.3 million packs of cigarettes worth over 30 million lei. "During the period under review, border guards seized 6,300 kg of loose tobacco and 52 kg of hookah tobacco," said the inspector general of the Border Police, Police Superintendent Cornel-Laurian Stoica. Tobacco companies, big taxpayers, pay more than 20 billion lei annually to the state budget in excise duties, VAT and other taxes and contributions.
One of Sibiu’s most iconic landmarks, the Council Tower (Turnul Sfatului), will soon undergo a major restoration after the city secured nearly RON 16 million (around EUR 3.2 million) in non-reimbursable funding through the “Regiunea Centru” programme. The project, managed by the Regional Development Agency (ADR) Centru, aims to preserve and enhance a symbol of […]
The Foreign Ministry (MAE) asked Romanians in Israel to notify its representatives in the country of their presence and to follow the instructions of local authorities. The institution also issued a recommendation to avoid travel to Iran, in the context of Israel’s aerial strikes on Iranian nuclear installations. Moreover, several flights to Tel Aviv were cancelled. […]
A curated selection of critically acclaimed films by Romanian directors will be screened at the Ro-Mania Film Festival, set to take place in Berlin between June 20 and June 30. The festival will screen 43 films, including feature films, shorts, and documentaries, in a program that also covers concerts, workshops, debates, public readings, Q&As, and […]
More than 85% of Romanians believe the country will face economic difficulties in the near future, with concern particularly high among voters of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) and adults aged 30 to 59, according to the latest INSCOP Research Barometer published on June 13 and consulted by Adevarul. ...
A limited agreement on the structure of the fiscal plan was reached among the four parties negotiating for a ruling majority in Romania, but there was little consensus on specific measures to support the plan on the revenue side, such as higher tax rates. The deadlock is total when it comes to the prime minister […]
The wage share in Romania (the share of the gross value added disbursed as total labour compensation) reached 45.6% in Romania in the 12 months to March 2025, according to data published by the statistics office INS. The dynamics of the wage share reflect how much the real wages have increased above labour productivity during […]
