Romanian Road Transporters Organize Protest Marches Countrywide

Transporters are asking for the elimination of the road toll and for the construction of parking spaces at European standards that would meet the requirements imposed by the Romanian legislation.

Laurentiu Banu, head of the Union of Road Transporters in Romania, said transporters started their protest in Buzau city on Monday at around 8:00 local time and will march from Vama Buzaului up to the outskirts of Ploiesti town.  

“This is a peaceful protest. We hope not to affect traffic. Police authorities will offer their support in order to avoid traffic jams in intersections. We ask for the immediate elimination of the road toll and parking spaces at European standards,” said Banu.

Transporters decided to organize protests, as the Transports Ministry officials postponed signing the protocol eliminating road tolls, although the Ministry of Economy and Finance agreed to eliminate road tolls and collect the toll from fuel prices, following a meeting with transporters on April 1. 

The protocol includes 11 claims, among which the elimination of tolls for national roads, the elimination of all traffic restrictions for trucks, the cancelling of the car tax for Euro 4 and Euro 5 vehicles, a transparent collection of fuel excises and getting employers in the field of transports to monitor the use of these excises for road construction and maintenance.