Romanian Fin Min Confident In Solving Farmers' Demands

Romanian Finance Minister Gheorghe Pogea on Wednesday assured farmers the authorities will find a solution to compensate their dues to the state with the subsidies farmers benefit from through the paying agency in agriculture.

"One of the problems raised, and I believe the Finance Ministry is able to solve it, regards compensating the farmers' fiscal dues to the state with the subsidies they receive from the Agriculture Ministry, via the Agency for Payments and Interventions in Agriculture (APIA). This matter will be unblocked. We took measures not only for farmers, but for other suppliers of products and services that have direct reports with the state," Pogea said after a meeting with farmers and Agriculture Minister Ilie Sarbu.
 
Pogea said the Agriculture Ministry's payment obligations worth 1.12 billion lei (EUR1-RON4.1998) to APIA will be honored by June 30.
 
He mentioned the farmers requested state's support to develop an integrated production - animal husbandry, milk production and processing - to increase profits.
 
The farmers also pressed for reexamination of the laws regarding subsidies in the animal husbandry sector, claiming many farmers still benefit from subsidies, despite the fact they are no longer animal breeders.
 
Some 1,200 Romanian farmers staged a protest in front of the government headquarters Wednesday morning, pressing for compensatory subsidies and a ban on low-quality imported milk.

Mediafax