The Federation of Romanian Transport Operators (FORT) calls on the Romanian Government to urgently adopt measures to limit the impact of the oil price increase on fuels, including the partial return of excise tax to transporters, the temporary reduction of excise tax on diesel and the consideration of a fuel price cap, according to a statement.
„In the context of geopolitical tensions and the volatility of international energy markets, there is a risk of an accelerated increase in the price of fuel at the pump, which would have negative knock-on effects on the transportation sector, logistics costs and, implicitly, on the prices of goods and services in the economy,” the statement said.
Therefore, FORT calls on the Romanian Government to adopt measures such as the partial refund of excise duty to hauliers.
„FORT requests the inclusion in the State Budget for the year 2026 of the sums necessary for the partial return of the 65 bani/liter excise tax to transporters for the entire year 2026, an essential measure for maintaining the competitiveness of Romanian transporters in relation to operators from other EU Member States,” the statement reads, according to Agerpres.
At the same time, FORT representatives call for a temporary reduction in excise duty on diesel.
„FORT is proposing the establishment of a temporary mechanism to adjust the excise duty on diesel fuel to a reference level of 70 dollars per barrel of oil,” the document said.
Thus, if the price of oil exceeds this threshold, the excise duty should be reduced proportionally, so that the price of diesel at the pump remains stable and the increase in the cost of a barrel of diesel is absorbed by a corresponding reduction in excise duty, say the federation's representatives.
Temporary fuel price caps are also on the list.
Thus, FORT's representatives are calling for a temporary fuel price cap to be considered, in line with European legislation and existing examples in other EU Member States, such as Slovenia, where such measures have been implemented to protect the economy and consumers in times of extreme volatility in the energy market.
„Rising fuel prices affect not just hauliers but the whole economy. Every extra penny at the pump is reflected in the price of products, in logistical costs and, ultimately, in Romanians” purchasing power. This is why it is essential for the state to intervene intelligently and temporarily to stabilize the market. We ask the Government to include in the budget for 2026 the necessary amounts to return the excise tax of 65 bani per liter to transporters and to adopt a flexible mechanism for adjusting the excise tax in relation to the evolution of oil prices. At the same time, the temporary cap on fuel prices, following the model of other European countries, must be considered with the utmost responsibility. Without these measures, we run the risk that the pressure on transportation costs will turn into a new spiral of higher prices throughout the economy," said Beniamin Lucescu, FORT President, quoted in the statement.