Romania is the third country in Europe in terms of the number of bee colonies and honey production, and we are trying every possible way to support every agricultural sector, especially the beekeeping sector, of which, I must tell you, we are proud, Maria Toma, director general of the Directorate for Agricultural Policies at the Ministry of Agriculture, said on Friday at the opening of the National Honey Fair.
‘I am not speaking on behalf of the ministry’s leadership; I am speaking strictly in my capacity as a specialist. We are trying every possible way to support every agricultural sector, especially the beekeeping sector, of which, I must tell you, we are proud. We are the third country in Europe in terms of the number of bee colonies and honey production (…). We have a legislative proposal that continues the previous one, the law that was approved, except that it will no longer be called state aid, but de minimis aid (€15 per bee colony – ed. note). This is what the Ministry of Agriculture tried to legislate, but was unable to do so. This initiative is endorsed by our ministry and we will support it,’ she said.
Just two months after the initial approval of Law No 101/2026 (which promised support of €15 per bee colony in the form of state aid for the period 2026–2028), a new legislative bill has been submitted amending the mechanism for granting it. The subsidy remains €15, but its legal form is being changed to de minimis aid.
The submission of this bill was necessary because the money promised to beekeepers under the law adopted two and a half months ago cannot be granted, as the scheme needs to be approved by the European Commission.
President Nicușor Dan promulgated, on 24 June 2026, the Law establishing a state aid scheme for beekeepers worth €15 for each bee colony.
The scheme was to be implemented in compliance with the provisions set out in the European Union Guidelines on State aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas for the period 2026–2028.
According to the legislation, the scheme was to apply throughout Romania, following the European Commission’s authorisation of the state aid.
Source: AGERPRES
