USR asks the Ciolacu Government not to increase fuel excises next year. The excise tax increase will again affect the population, already faced with tax increases and price increases in the last two years of the PSD-PNL government, as well as the business environment, according to a statement.

“The economic environment and Romanians will be affected anyway from January 1, 2024 by the new tax increases that will come into force. The introduction of the tax specific to the oil and natural gas sector also from January 1 will have an impact on fuel prices anyway. Further increase in excise duty will contribute to suffocation of the economy by chain-raising prices throughout the economy. Maintaining the current level of excise duty is crucial for the year 2024 if we want people not to become even more impoverished,” says USR deputy, Cristina Prună, vice-president of the Commission for Industries and Services.

According to a draft emergency ordinance, the excise tax would increase from January 1, 2024 by 33% of the inflation level, from April 1, 2024 by another 33% and from June 1, 2024 by 32%.

The increase in fuel excise duty in 2024, after being frozen in 2023, would come in a highly unpredictable global context, which may lead to significant increases in oil prices in the coming months.

“The current context requires maintaining the fuel excise level in 2024 as well. The price of fuel is at a high level anyway due to international developments and it is possible to witness further increases in oil quotations. It is inadmissible for the Government to carry out new experiments at the expense of Romanians and Romanian companies, by amplifying the effects of external shock waves. We can witness significant increases in fuel prices at any time,” adds Cristina Prună.

The international oil market is tense during this period due to discussions within OPEC forced by Russia, but which also finds other supporters, regarding the reduction of oil production within the organization. Such a decision would have an immediate and strongly upward impact on global quotes.