The Confederation of Authorized Operators and Hauliers of Romania (COTAR) is asking the Government for urgent measures, such as reducing excise taxes or capping fuel prices, warning that the accelerated increase in the price of diesel fuel could generate chain bankruptcies, increase unemployment and hike up prices in the economy.
According to a release sent to AGERPRES on Friday, COTAR draws the attention of the Government and, in particular, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, that the 1 billion lei collected monthly to the state budget from fuel excise taxes will cost much more, "after the chain bankruptcies of companies, the wave of unemployment and hunger come".
"Diesel fuel means the transport of goods and people, and its increase in price automatically leads to the increase of all prices and the destruction of the Romanian economy", the release states.
COTAR has asked the Government to reduce excise duties on fuels in order to save Romania's economy, in the context of the current crisis, when, according to the organization, all European countries have taken similar measures, including following the recommendations of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
Following the meeting with the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Transport, the Romanian Government agreed to extend the period of granting subsidies for hauliers, between April 1 and December 31, 2026, increasing the amount from 65 to 85 bani per liter of diesel. However, in the context of the accelerated increase in costs, the organization considers that the measure is not sufficient.
According to COTAR, a set of measures will be necessary to keep costs at a low level, including by taking over models already applied in other European countries.
COTAR says that, in Romania, the price increase is also determined by the successive increases in excise duties, from January 1, 2026, and by the increase in VAT to 21%, applied from August 1, 2025.
According to the organization, Romania currently has more expensive fuels than Austria and Spain, while Bulgaria has maintained some of the lowest prices in the European Union, by applying the minimum excise duty allowed by European legislation.
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