The Government wants to include more farmers in the National Rural Development Plan by lowering the eligibility threshold from EUR 8,000 to EUR 4,000 per production level.

The measure is part of a package aimed at developing the middle class in Romania’s rural areas.

Currently about 73% of the Romanian farmers live in subsistence farms, and 97% of 3 million farmers are not eligible for the National Rural Development Plan, which grants access to European funds.

The package, called “The Ciolos reform returns home”, includes other measures such as granting farmers state guarantees to buy their first tractor or replacing old equipment, and removing the double taxation. The Government also wants to grant EUR 15,000 per farm in two tranches to help develop small farms.

The current Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos was European Commissioner for Agriculture in 2010-2014, and contributed to the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

editor@romania-insider.com