RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Talks on surtaxing the energy chain

The Romanian government wants to surtax energy companies, saying their profits are very high.

Talks on surtaxing the energy chain
Talks on surtaxing the energy chain

, 29.08.2022, 14:00

The ruling coalition formed by the Social Democratic Party, the National Liberal Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania is planning to adopt a regulation next week to introduce an additional tax for energy producers, intermediaries and suppliers. The coalitions leaders have already asked the finance ministry and the Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority to make the necessary simulations and present them as soon as possible so that by 1st September, the government may come up with a regulation that establishes the exact conditions and amount of the surtax. Energy minister and Liberal Party member Virgil Popescu, who has often come under criticism for how he has handled the crisis, says the very high profits in the energy field must be eliminated. As an example, he cited the intermediaries, who buy cheap energy from producers and sell it at a high cost to consumers. Virgil Popescu:



“Were considering surtaxing the entire production chain, intermediaries and suppliers. Taxes are not generally established by the energy ministry. We can only provide consultancy, be part of working groups, but the project leaders are the Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority, which centralises the data, and the finance ministry. This must be done as fairly and firmly as possible. Its unacceptable for some to make huge profits and for others to pay the bills. We have to tax everyone when the profits are very high. And there are huge profits on the energy market in some areas. In my opinion, an intermediary of electricity or natural gas should not earn more than a few percentages. All they do is buy and then sell.”



Minister Popescu also said the government will decide this autumn what will happen on the energy market beyond 31st March 2023, the date by which energy and natural gas prices have been capped. Meanwhile, there are more and more voices in Europe accusing Russia of weaponising its hydrocarbon exports after its invasion of Ukraine in revenge of the sanctions imposed by Europe. Austrias chancellor Karl Nehammer has called on the European Union to decouple electricity prices from those of gas to reduce energy bills. He said the EU must meet urgently to discuss this and that” electricity prices must go down”, adding that “we cant let Putin decide every day” about the price of energy and that “we have to stop this madness that is happening right now on energy markets”. (CM)

Tags:
(Photo: pixabay@Engin_Akyurt)
Today in the News Thursday, 31 October 2024

Romanians’ concerns

Romanians and Austrians are the most satisfied with their lives among the inhabitants of Central and Eastern Europe, but the former are significantly...

Romanians’ concerns
Elections in Moldova (Photo: Radio Chișinău)
Today in the News Thursday, 31 October 2024

Republic of Moldova, crucial final

On November 3, the citizens of the Republic of Moldova have to choose, for the position of head of state, between the pro-European Maia Sandu, the...

Republic of Moldova, crucial final
Foto: Baza 71 Aeriană / MApn
Today in the News Wednesday, 30 October 2024

Drones, a security issue

The Romanian Ministry of National Defense has placed under decisional transparency a bill that improves airspace security measures. The bill, which...

Drones, a security issue
Foto: pixabay.com
Today in the News Wednesday, 30 October 2024

The Fugitive Law is constitutional

The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) has rejected the referral of the High Court of Cassation and Justice (ICCJ) in relation to the so-called...

The Fugitive Law is constitutional
Today in the News Tuesday, 29 October 2024

Challenges of an ageing population

Romanians are getting fewer and older.   The population of Romania in mid-2024 was 21,779,000, down 1% compared to June 1, 2023. According to...

Challenges of an ageing population
Today in the News Monday, 28 October 2024

Romania sees rising public debt levels

Government debt rose in July to over 876 billion lei (that’s around 175 billion euros), from 860 billion lei in the previous month, according to...

Romania sees rising public debt levels
Today in the News Monday, 28 October 2024

Presidential debate in the Republic of Moldova

An unusual electoral debate, in form, but predictable in content, had as protagonists, on Sunday, the two remaining candidates in the presidential...

Presidential debate in the Republic of Moldova
Today in the News Friday, 25 October 2024

The presidential campaign begins

  Romania saw the start of the campaign for the first round of the presidential election on Friday. The campaign ends at 7 am on November 23....

The presidential campaign begins

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company