Romanian Financial Guard, Customs Authority To Remain Separate Bodies

05.04.2011 By Bostan Radu

The Romanian Financial Guard and Customs Authority will not be absorbed by government revenue service ANAF, which will be reorganized through layoffs and the closing of some regional offices, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

In early March, a draft Government decision said ANAF would take over the duties of the Customs Authority and Financial Guard. The move would have cut about 5000 jobs, bringing ANAF's staff to 29,100 employees.

The sources said the Government has dropped this plan, likely because it did not have the entire ruling coalition's support.

Both Finance Minister Gheorghe Ialomitianu and ANAF president Sorin Blejnar have spoken recently about restructuring ANAF by reducing the number of offices by 30%, but making no mention of a merger between the Financial Guard and Customs Authority.

In his most recent statement on this topic, Ialomitianu said 20% of the revenue service's 34,000 employees would be laid off.