Monday, January 29, 2007

European Commission slams Romanian Govt. in car registration tax scandal


"Romania won't become a garbage dump for European cars if the first car registration tax is cancelled" declared the European Commissions Business representative in Bucharest, Onno Simons, for Hotnews.ro, thus contradicting Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu.

The Romanian APIA (Car Importers' and Exporters' Association) representatives officially declared on January 14 that they consider "as an irresponsible gesture to encourage the acquisition of old and polluting cars. Any concession made to those who look for profit at any price would lead to transforming Romania in a garbage dump for Europe".

"The free circulation of goods is one of the European Union's foundation stones of the European interior market. The second hand cars are also goods and there shouldn’t be any discrimination, compared to new cars", answered Simons.

The tax, already casing serious problems in Poland, where the government may be forced to refund 555 million euros to taxpayers, is supported in Romania by both APIA and prime minister Tariceanu (Citroen dealer in his spare time).

HotNews.ro, Jan 24, 2007

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