Romania and the European agriculture

Farmers say they first warned that prices would go up as early as 3 months ago, given the decrease in world cereal production. Agricultural producers are pointing the finger at both the processors, suspected of tax evasion and illegal imports, and the government, which they blame for the deficient investment system in agriculture.

On the other hand, the authorities say that half of the agricultural production in Romania is carried out in semi-subsistence farms. The authorities say these farms are the result of the fragmentation of agricultural property and warn that nothing will change unless all these smallholdings are put together.

A former agriculture minister in the former Liberal cabinet, Dacian Ciolos is familiar with the problems in this sector. He learnt straight from the Romanian farmers what they expect from the Common Agricultural Policy, which is to due to come into force in three years’ time.

“These expectations are related to the level of financial support for Romanian farmers, the producers’ place within the food industry, the continuation of investments in agriculture and support for specific sectors. I took note of these issues and will take them into consideration. I am pleased that we have been able to have a proper dialogue.” said Dacian Ciolos.

The European Union Commissioner for Agriculture also met the members of the parliamentary agriculture committees, to which he presented the pillars of the future Common Agricultural Policy.

The main goals remain the food production and supplying European Union markets. Ciolos pointed out that food safety is not something of the past, noting that as soon as Russia and Ukraine stopped exporting cereals for a certain period, prices skyrocketed. This has prompted the European Union to maintain its production capacity.

From this point of view, the new European Union member states have a production potential that needs to be tapped.

The other goals of the Common Agricultural Policy have to do with the management of natural resources and the contribution of agriculture to land occupation and management.