Romania Avoids 25% Slash In EU Farm Aid

Following rapid progress by the Romanian authorities in putting in place the necessary controls over agricultural spending, the European Commission decided not to apply the so-called 'safeguard mechanism' in Romania, EC said in a statement.

“A new report from the independent expert (Deloitte) concludes that no major deficiencies remain to be solved for this IT module. As such, the activation of the safeguard mechanism cannot be justified. The decision not to use the safeguard does not imply that everything is perfect. As in all new systems, certain problems may only emerge when payments start,” the statement noted.

"I commend Romania for the rapid progress they have made in improving their control systems, which avoided a triggering of the safeguard. This mechanism has clearly helped in motivating Romania to improve the situation,” EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel said.

Following EC’s decision, Romanian Agriculture Minister Dacian Ciolos said farmers should be able to get their payments shortly, once the national farm payments agency APIA finalizes field inspections.

“The report confirmed we (Romania – e.n.) adjusted the main deficiencies in the field and we have proved there is no need for sanctions against us (…). We must finish the field inspections in order to begin payments,” Ciolos said.

According to Ciolos, Romanian farmers might receive the first payments from European funds as of January or February next year.

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