Preliminary assessment of the fourth payment request of Romania

As explained in point i, the system introduces distance-based charges in RON/km, with clear criteria linking them to air pollution, notably through variation in taxation based on the EURO emission norm.

The Commission considers that there is a clerical error in the text of the Council Implementing Decision as regards the description of milestone 59 and has undertaken the assessment on a revised basis. In such description, it is stated that “The new charging system for vehicles shall include - specific level of distance-based charges and clear criteria linked to air pollution for charging heavy duty […]”.

However, both the name of the milestone and the measure description indicate that the milestone concerns the entry into force of legal acts for the implementation of a new distance-based charging system for heavy duty vehicles (trucks). The reference to heavy duty vehicles (trucks) is therefore the one considered relevant for the fulfilment of milestone 59.

Against this background, the justification and substantiating evidence provided by the Romanian authorities cover all constitutive elements of the milestone.

 iv.    - using revenues to support road maintenance and new investment in sustainable
        transport

Article 20(3) of Law 1 establishes that the revenues collected through the new charging system will be used for the design, repair, administration, maintenance, operation and modernisation of roads of national interest as well as investments in sustainable transport.

  v.    timetable for the charging system to start collecting revenues no later than July 1, 2026

Article 29(1) of Law 1 contains the timetable for the application of the new charging system. It had initially established 1 January 2026 as the start for the application of the new charging system, namely the date from which the system would start collecting revenues. The Sole article of Ordinance No. 14/2025 for the extension of time limits provided for by Law No. 226/2023 on the application of road charges on the Romanian network of national roads (Ordonanță pentru prorogarea unor termene prevăzute de Legea nr. 226/2023 privind aplicarea unor tarife rutiere pe rețeaua de drumuri naționale din România), published in the Official Journal No. 784 on 22 August 2026 (Evidence No. 5) amends Article 29(1) by postponing the start of the system to 1 July 2026. The Ordinance was then converted into law with Law No. 14/2026 published in the Official Journal No. 27 on 15 January 2026 and entered into force three days after publication, in accordance with Article 78 of the Romanian Constitution, as Law 14/2026 does not contain a specific entry into force date.

4. Commission Preliminary Assessment: Satisfactorily fulfilled.

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