Romanian President Basescu: Finance Ministry to push for idea of uniting Financial Guard, Customs within fiscal authority ANAF

Luni, 7 martie 2011, 12:42 English | Politics

Tax evasion has become a vulnerability of the national security as over 30% of the resources bound for the state are subject of tax evasion or suspicions of tax evasion, Romanian President Traian Basescu said at an event on Monday. And he said the Finance Ministry will soon start work on the idea of uniting the Financial Guard and the Customs Office within fiscal authority ANAF.

He said a project in this regard was being debated but that he would rather leave the two institutions untouched the end of 2011 to prove their capacity.

And he said the major priority for 2011 and 2012 was the fight against tax evasion. In 2011, authorities should also focus on fighting local and top level corruption and deal with local organized crime groups, or "clans", Basescu said. He showed there were two to three clans in each county and up to five in bigger counties in Romania.