27.04.2022

THE EC HAS APPROVED A ROMANIAN SCHEME TO SUPPORT LIVESTOCK FARMERS WORTH 453M LEI

The European Commission yesterday approved a Romanian scheme worth 91m euros (453m Romanian lei) to help cattle, pigs and poultry farmers in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, the European Commission said in a statement.

The scheme is approved under the Temporary Framework for State Aid. According to the scheme, the aid will take the form of direct grants. The measure aims to address the liquidity problems facing farmers and to compensate for some of the losses suffered due to the coronavirus pandemic and the restrictive measures the Romanian authorities had to put in place to limit the spread of the virus. The scheme will be open to all companies operating in the cattle, pig and poultry sectors.

Last week, Agriculture Minister Adrian Kesnoyu announced that more than 95,000 farmers would benefit from financial aid of about 454m lei to make up for some of the losses they have reported over the past two years due to sanitary restrictions and chain breaches for deliveries.

"We support livestock farmers by providing state aid to compensate for some of the losses that farmers have suffered in the last two years due to sanitary restrictions and supply chain disruptions. With the provision of this aid worth nearly 454 million lei, in addition to others programs to support the livestock sector, we offer farmers the help they need to operate under normal conditions," said Kesnoyu, according to a press release from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

A government ordinance setting up a state aid scheme to support cattle, pig and poultry farmers in the context of the economic crisis caused by the covid pandemic was passed by the government last Thursday. The maximum total value of the state aid scheme is 453.899 million lei and is distributed as follows: 170.250 million lei for the cattle sector, 167.649 million lei for the pig sector and 116 million lei for the poultry sector.

The payment of state aid must be made by June 30, 2022.