European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, will travel to Romania for a two-day visit on May 13-14, 2024.

On Monday, May 13, the Commissioner will meet with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and Minister Florin Barbu, followed by a dialogue with farmers' associations and representatives of the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Bucharest.

On Tuesday, May 14, Commissioner Wojciechowski will visit the Port of Constanta and conclude his visit to Romania by visiting the Rasova Winery and EU-funded projects. Ahead of his visit, Commissioner Wojciechowski stated:

"I am looking forward to arriving in Romania for a visit that will provide a series of important opportunities.

Firstly, this will be an opportunity to participate in constructive meetings with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and Minister Florin Barbu to discuss the latest developments impacting agriculture both in Romania and the EU, as well as the implementation of Romania's CAP Strategic Plan, which directs approximately €15 billion in EU funds to farmers and rural communities in Romania.

Romania has become a significant agri-food producer in the past decade, with exports reaching a net surplus of €2.7 billion in 2023. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that farmers in Romania can continue to produce in large quantities and with the most sustainable methods, for the long-term benefit of regional economies, the EU market, and global food security.

Secondly, my visit to the Port of Constanta will provide an excellent opportunity to assess the current situation regarding the transportation of cereals and other agricultural products from Ukraine. Romania has made exceptional efforts to provide vital assistance to Ukraine's economy during its deepest crisis, facilitating the largest alternative export route for cereals and other goods outside the Black Sea corridor.

For this reason, the Commission recently approved a €126 million Romanian state aid scheme to support the necessary investments in ports facing increased trade flows. Romania can also benefit from funding under the Connecting Europe Facility - Transport component to support investments in new and modernized infrastructure.

Lastly, most importantly, I will have the opportunity to meet personally with farmers in Romania and thank them for their vital work. Romanian farmers have demonstrated their resilience and have proven their vital role in the EU's food system repeatedly in these challenging years.

The European Commission is aware of the challenges they have faced and has responded decisively, for example, by strengthening safeguard measures to counter the negative impact of Ukrainian imports, providing nearly €40 million in emergency support from the agricultural reserve, and most recently, through our package of measures to reduce administrative burdens and strengthen equity in the supply chain.

I have met with Romanian farmers in Brussels on several occasions during my mandate, and I look forward to renewing our conversation in Bucharest to discuss how the EU can support them in addressing their most pressing challenges and how it can help them maximize their most promising opportunities." (Photo: European Commission)