The Employers’ Association of Motor Transport Operators (APOTA) published an open letter to Prime Minister Dorin Recean whereby they request the official to get involved in solving the problems that endanger the transport sector. APOTA asks the Prime Minister for an audience with the carriers to discuss and find solutions to the legal extension of permits for regular services in national traffic. Also, discussions are requested on the equipment of transport units with cash registers and on clarifications regarding the tariff regulation and the work of stations. Carriers say that the failure to solve these problems can lead to strikes in the near future, IPN reports.

The carriers request the withdrawal by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development of the draft government decision that provides for the shortening of the validity period of permits for regular services in national traffic. The Ministry, the Economic Council working under the Prime Minister, together with the associations operating in the field, should draft a normative document that would provide for the implementation of only one condition for the extension of permits, which should be related to the recovery of investments and ensuring to the same treatment as in the legislation of the EU countries. Also, the issuing of new permits for a period of eight years for the routes for which the permits expired and the National Road Transport Agency (ANTA) has not extended them under the law should be ordered.

APOTA requests the creation of a working group within the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Justice and the Economic Council, together with the associations working in the field of transport, to work out the amendment to the Road Transport Code so that the obligation to equip transport units with cash register and control equipment in international traffic is fulfilled within six months, in international traffic – within one year,  in local traffic – within two years, in district traffic – within three years, while the cash registers are connected only with the automated information system of the State Tax Register. The working group should ensure that the legal regulations regarding the technical conditions for cash registers are identical to those for other activities, and that transport operators have the possibility to purchase cash registers from at least two manufacturers.

APOTA also requests that the methodology for calculating charges for regular transport services and the methodology for calculating charges for bus station services should be designed and finalized and these should should present objective formulas and calculations.