CFR said last week that all rail transport operators, either public or private, had until April 9, 2013 to pay off overdue debts amassed through the non-payment of rail tolls.
CFR’s managing board chairman Lucian Isar said the company’s planned measures include seizing bank accounts and restricting access to the railway network for all clients failing to meet contract obligations.
Sophocleous stressed that even state-owned passenger and freight railway carriers CFR Calatori and CFR Marfa, respectively, may no longer be allowed to use the railway network if they fail to meet their financial obligations.
According to a draft Government emergency ordinance, Romania’s tax authority ANAF will take over an overdue debt of 119 million lei (EUR27 million) CFR has to privatization authority AVAS, and then CFR Marfa will absorb a RON606 million debt of CFR to ANAF. According to the draft act’s explanatory note, the measure is aimed at reducing arrears to the state budget.
CFR said Monday it reduced its debts by 13% in the first quarter of the year, to RON540 million from RON620 million, after paying contributions to the general consolidated budget. (EUR1=RON4.4099)