Romania faces freeze on farm aid

The European Commission will decide on 27 November whether to withhold more than €100 million in EU farm aid to Romania because of the country’s repeated delays in reforming its agricultural payments system.

Leonard Orban, Romania’s European commissioner, made the announcement yesterday (30 October) in Bucharest after meeting agriculture minister, Dacian Ciolos˛.

Romania has a deadline of next Tuesday (9 November) to send a report to the Commission on how it is implementing a new computerised system for registering farms. The Commission told the government in Bucharest on 10 October that it had one month to show that it was complying with EU regulations on reforming its system.

The problems identified by EU experts concern the database and data control software, which are not yet working fully. Statements made by farmers have also proved problematic. In several cases, different people have claimed ownership of the same pieces of land.

Orban told Ciolos˛ that the Commission was concerned about weaknesses in the disposal of dead animals and controls on swine fever, an animal disease.

The Commission has warned that it may withhold 25% of the farm aid due to Romania in direct payments for agricultural activity in 2007. This would amount to more than €100 million and would be a severe blow to the Romanian government.

Aid to Romania’s 1.3 million farmers will already be significantly delayed until after 1 December because of the ongoing assessments by the Commission.

The European Commission will decide on 27 November whether to withhold more than €100 million in EU farm aid to Romania because of the country’s repeated delays in reforming its agricultural payments system.