Vignette Bill passes first reading

Parliament on Thursday has approved on a first reading the so-called Vignette Bill, which introduces the following road tolls for foreign cars: 2 euros for 7 days, 4 euros for 15 days, 7 euros for 30 days, 15 euros for 90 days, and 25 euros for a maximum of 180 days of stay in Moldova, Info-Prim Neo reports. Finance Minister Veaceslav Negruta said the revenues expected following the application of these taxes will be around 20-25 million lei, which will go to the Road Fund. Liberal MP Vadim Cojocaru suggested that before the second reading a provision should be included in the Bill to relieve Moldovan migrant workers from the payment of the vignette for a period of 30 days, when they return home on vacation, driving cars with foreign plates. Negruta argued that if the tax base is not enlarged by attracting more taxpayers it will be necessary to increase the tax. MP Veaceslav Ionita, chair of the Parliament's Economy Commission, revealed that the fines for evading the tax will range from 2,000 to 4,000 lei. Earlier the Ministry of Finance proposed vignette rates of 7, 65 and 380 euros for 3, 30 and 180 days, respectively.