Romania Joins Global Earth Hour 2014
Romania participated Saturday, March 29, in the Earth Hour movement, by switching off lights in public buildings and not only.
In Romania, Earth Hour is a widespread initiative dating back to 2009 when the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) decided to invite Romanians to take a step back and reflect on how to make our living more sustainable.
The event is held worldwide annually encouraging individuals, communities, households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the last Saturday in March, as a symbol for their commitment to the planet. It was famously started as a lights-off event in Sydney, Australia, in 2007. (Adevarul)
Moderate Earthquake In South-Eastern Romania
Romania’s National Institute for Earth Physics has announced a magnitude 4.9 earthquake occurred Saturday in the country’s south-eastern Vrancea seismic area, in Buzau county.
The quake was also felt in capital city Bucharest.
Experts of the national statistics institute said this is the largest earthquake occurred in 2014 in Vrancea, at a depth of 135 kilometers. (Curierul National)
PM Says Honest Transporters Will Recover Part Of New Excise Tax On Fuels
Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta said the new tax of EUR0.07 per liter of fuel will be levied starting April 1 and the Government will introduce a set of fiscal measures allowing honest transporters, which are not involved in tax evasion acts, to recover a part of the money paid on the new excise tax on fuels.
Thus, the government plans to refund transporters EUR0.04 of the new tax of EUR0.07 per liter of fuel to be introduced as of April. Ponta said the money will be paid back quarterly based on invoices covering fuel purchases.
The new tax was supposed to be levied as of January 2014, but it was postponed by three months after President Traian Basescu refused to sign the country’s memorandum of understanding with the IMF. (Gandul)
Prices Of Gasoline, Diesel Fuel, Natural Gas, Cigarettes And Food Rise As Of April 1
April 1 in Romania brings higher prices for gasoline, diesel fuel, natural gas, cigarettes and food products.
Price increases are triggered by the introduction of a new tax of EUR0.07 per liter of fuel starting April 1. Considering the value added tax, the average price increase will be RON0.5.
The new tax was supposed to be levied as of January 2014, but it was postponed by three months after President Traian Basescu refused to sign the country’s memorandum of understanding with the IMF. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Romania Extends Enrollment Deadline For Cash for Clunkers Program
Romania’s Environment Fund Administration, which manages the country’s government-backed cash for clunkers program, said the enrollment deadline for the program has been extended until Monday, March 31.
Thus, carmakers, importers and distributors have until Monday to submit applications. Vouchers will be assigned electronically depending on demand and those willing to buy a new vehicle will receive RON6.500 for the scrapped car.
A scrappage program is a government budget program to promote the replacement of old vehicles with modern vehicles. Scrappage programs generally target to both stimulate the automobile industry and remove inefficient, high emissions vehicles from the road. (Adevarul)