A group of carriers protested in the center of the capital city against a law that was passed in December 2023. According to them, the given law runs counter to the European norms. The carriers demand that the changes be annulled, IPN reports.
Oleg Alexa, chairman of the Employers’ Association of Motor Transport Operators, said that the route network must comply with the European principles and ensure equal and non-discriminatory access to public transport services in each locality.
The carriers complain that they were forced to buy a cash register that would be connected to a system managed by a private company that charges commission for flow management. According to Oleg Alexa, this company projects to collect 50 million lei a year from carriers. These provisions are contrary to the legislation of the European Union and they all were introduced under the guise of the need to harmonize the national legislation with the European legislation.
Oleg Alexa announced that carriers start a series of protests today. If necessary, the routes will be suspended.
Anatolie Munteanu, executive director of the Employers’ Association of Transport Professionals “Transportatorul”, insists that the made changes should be cancelled and the Road Transport Code and the Fiscal Code should be amended in the interests of the citizens, carriers and the state.
In reaction, MP Radu Marian noted that the law on carriers adopted by Parliament is important and will make the public transport more accessible and safer for citizens. The provisions of the law with which the protesting carriers do not agree reduce the interval for national routes to 15 minutes. But this is a measure that will reduce monopolistic abuses by particular companies. Under the same law, LPAs will be able to initiate the opening and modification of a new regular route.
Also, road transport is taxed and digitized: e-ticket, e-GPS and e-routing. It is necessary to tax the process of issuing a ticket. The tickets will be issued in the form of fiscal receipts or an electronic document.
Radu Marian added that everyone has the right to protest. The MPs will carefully analyze protesters; demands, but the organizers must be vigilant. “According to our information, the Shor criminal group, which is well connected with particular transport groups, is trying to thwart these protests and destabilize the situation,” he noted.
