Chișinău urges Tiraspol to remove unfair transport fees
Chișinău has called on Tiraspol to eliminate what it considers excessive and discriminatory transport fees applied to vehicles exceeding 18 tons.
Authorities on the right bank of the Nistru argue that these charges harm economic relations between the two sides. The proposal was presented during the first 2025 meeting of the working groups on road transport and infrastructure development, held on February 20, as announced by the Bureau for Reintegration Policies.
To improve regional road infrastructure, Chișinău suggested assessing the possibility of repairing damaged roads. Discussions also covered synchronizing working hours at the vehicle registration offices in Tiraspol and Rîbnița, the only branches of the Public Services Agency (ASP) operating from Tuesday to Saturday. Chișinău proposed a unified Monday-to-Friday schedule to enhance service quality. Additionally, the need to diversify appointment booking channels, including the use of the national helpline 14909, was highlighted to improve service accessibility.
Tiraspol revisited its request to allow the registration of ambulances with neutral license plates. In response, Chișinău reiterated that such vehicles must comply with national legal requirements and international standards, as they are subject to strict regulations and assigned special series. The discussion also underscored the need to reintegrate Transnistrian healthcare facilities into the national health system.
According to official statistics, medical teams from Moldova responded to 170 emergency calls from the Transnistrian region over the past two months, providing urgent medical assistance and patient transfers.
Another key topic was the registration of vehicles with neutral plates. Chișinău clarified the legal distinctions for vehicles brought into Transnistria since April 24, 2018, noting that the Ministry of Finance is developing a legislative framework to regulate these issues more clearly.
Regarding driver’s licenses, Chișinău announced that approximately 50% of Transnistrian drivers currently hold Moldovan national licenses. Tiraspol's proposal to introduce neutral-model driver’s licenses was rejected, as it does not comply with national or international regulations.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
