SocDem leader: Romania's Cash-for-Bangers program needs to be developed

Romania's Cash-for-Bangers (Rabla) program should not only be maintained but also developed in the next 4-5 years, Social Democratic leader Liviu Dragnea said yesterday. He was on a visit to the Dacia plant in Pitesti. “It’s important to understand what it means to buy cars manufactured in Romania compared to second-hand cars bought from abroad. A car produced in Romania brings EUR 3,500 to the state budget whereas an imported one (brings) zero,” said Dragnea. The Rabla program has recently received additional funds of RON 25 million (EUR 5.4 million). This means that another 4,000 people will get vouchers to buy new cars. The program will have 25,000 beneficiaries by the end of the year. Senate president Calin Popescu Tariceanu, who accompanied Dragnea in his visit at the Dacia plant, said that Romania is turning into “Europe’s graveyard for old cars”, despite the efforts made to renew the car fleet. He added that more old cars are imported than those scrapped through the Rabla program. The Environment Ministry announced earlier this week that it was working on a new environment tax to discourage used car imports. editor@romania-insider.com