The application of VAT and excise duties on non-essential goods imported by businesses from the Transnistrian region will begin on September 1, rather than August 1 as initially planned. Prime Minister Vasile Tofan said the delay was decided to ensure a gradual economic integration of residents from the left bank of the Dniester.
“We are not forcing the process. We want a gradual integration of the people there into our economic space,” Tofan said.
According to the prime minister, economic rapprochement between the two banks of the Dniester is already underway, with a significant increase in the number of people from the Transnistrian region working on the right bank.
“Last year, several thousand people were going to work every day from the left bank to the right bank. Today, more than 40,000 people do so every day,” he said.
Tofan stressed that residents of the Transnistrian region who hold Moldovan citizenship benefit from social services, pensions, and other state support regardless of their place of residence.
“At the moment, we spend approximately 20–50 million lei on access to social services for our Moldovan citizens with Moldovan passports who live on the left bank of the Dniester,” the prime minister stated.
He explained that the introduction of taxes is not aimed at increasing state revenues, but rather at partially covering the expenses incurred by the government for citizens living in the region.
“The message we are sending to the people there and to the authorities there is that we are not introducing these taxes because we simply want additional money for ourselves. We have expenses related to the population on the left bank of the Dniester, to our citizens with Moldovan passports, and these taxes will cover part of those costs,” Tofan said.
The prime minister emphasized that the state cannot treat Moldovan citizens differently depending on where they live.
“We cannot make a distinction between Moldovans if they have a Moldovan passport and are citizens, regardless of whether they live on the right or left bank of the Dniester. They are our citizens on both sides,” he added.
Tofan described the measure as a step toward economic fairness and equal treatment.
Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Valeriu Chiveri said the postponement until September 1 was made for objective reasons, including the need to complete public consultations before the new rules enter into force.