EC Analyzes Romania’s Car Tax Plans, Promises Answer As Soon As Possible

"I can confirm that the letter has been received,” Assimakopoulou said.

"We are analyzing the situation and we shall provide an answer as soon as possible,” she said, adding she cannot give further details yet.

Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu confirmed Friday that the government plans to put off by two weeks, until Dec 15, the date when the car tax exemption on new cars becomes effective, adding the date could be moved up if the European Commission sends a reply by mid-December.

"We’ve sent a letter to the European Commission informing it on the measure and I would have liked to have an answer. In the worst-case scenario, we could have a delay of 15 days. But the decree will become effective as of December 15 at the latest. If the answer arrives sooner, we’ll publish the decree in the Official Gazette,” Tariceanu said.

The Romanian government has already drafted an emergency decree suspending the pollution tax for new cars as of Dec 15, two weeks later than planned, as it is still awaiting approval from the European Commission, sources close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

The government is to approve the decree in next week’s cabinet meeting.

The government is also considering making the decree effective as of its publication in the country’s Official Gazette, to avoid any further delays in case the Commission doesn’t send a reply within the following two weeks, the sources said.

"The emergency decree suspending the pollution tax for the acquisition of new cars hasn’t been sent for publication in the Official Gazette because the European Commission hasn’t yet sent a reply," sources said Thursday.

They added Tariceanu asked the Environment Ministry and the Finance Ministry in the cabinet meeting on Tuesday to put off by two weeks the date when the tax exemption is to become effective, pending an answer from the EU Executive.

The government decided about two weeks ago to lift the car tax for new cars for one year, as of Dec 1. Tariceanu said at that time that preliminary talks with European Commission officials indicated the Commission would not oppose the move, but said the decree lifting the tax would not be published in the Official Gazette until the Commission takes an official stand.