The Government will examine the possibility of freezing the penalties for the overdue payment of taxes imposed on winemakers. Prime Minister Iurie Leanca asked the Ministry of Finance to immediately present information about the accumulated penalties. The issue was discussed in a meeting with winemakers held in the Government Building, IPN reports.

The meeting centered on the work of wine factories and the difficulties that appear in the process of purchasing grapes. “We do everything we can to prevent the appearance of problems in your work. We are making effort to find the best solutions for you and the state,” said the head of Government.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vasile Bumacov said they are to also discuss such issues as the purchase and processing of grapes, imposition of excises on the finished products, advertising of wine products and possibilities of offering support.

Deputy Minister of Finance Maria Caraus said the Ministry worked out a bill to eliminate the excises on raw material put when transporting it from one factory to another.

The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture will continue to hold talks with the European Investment Bank so that the institution provides preferential loans to winemakers for purchasing grapes from growers. In the end, the sides agreed to meet again to examine the solutions that will be proposed by the two ministries in two weeks.