The provisional agreement reached by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union on the simplification of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) represents an important step towards increasing the flexibility and efficiency of interventions for farmers, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) claims in a press release sent to AGERPRES on Wednesday.

According to the same source, one of the essential elements of this package is the extension of the eligibility of investments financed through European funds, which will also allow the purchase of animals within the CAP Strategic Plans, a measure promoted by Romania at the level of the Council of Ministers of Agriculture in Brussels.

„Romanian farmers need real support to develop their livestock and increase the competitiveness of their farms. That is why I proposed in Brussels that the purchase of animals should become eligible through the National Strategic Plan, and this proposal was accepted at European level. It is a correct and fair decision, which responds to the real needs in animal husbandry and will allow young farmers to develop their farms with European funding,” said the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Florin Barbu, in a statement.

Through this amendment, member states will be able to support investments in reproduction, genetics and the modernisation of livestock farms, while ensuring traceability and animal welfare.

The MADR specifies that the provisional agreement at European level is to be formally adopted by the EU Council and the European Parliament in the coming period, and subsequently the provisions will be integrated into the applicable regulations for the 2023-2027 programming period.

Subsequently, the relevant Romanian ministry will adapt, accordingly, the interventions in the National Strategic Plan to offer Romanian farmers the possibility of accessing financial support for the purchase of animals, thus consolidating a vital sector for the national agricultural economy.

AGERPRES