The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) announces that the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Florin-Ionuț BARBU, has signed the decision to extend the execution period of projects contracted under the National Rural Development Program (PNDR) 2014-2020. This extension takes into account the stage of implementation and the specificity of each project, as well as avoiding the risk of fund disengagement, within the maximum eligibility period for FEADR (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development) expenses, which is December 31, 2025.

Today, Minister BARBU had a meeting with investment beneficiaries, who were informed about the extension of the project implementation deadline. The discussions were attended by Secretary of State Sorin MOISE, the General Director of the National Agency for Rural Development Payments (AMPNDR) Dana REBEGA, and George CHIRIȚĂ, the General Director of the Romanian Rural Investment Fund (AFIR).

The decision was made based on European legislation that allows for a two-year extension of the initial PNDR implementation period, which was originally set to expire on December 31, 2023, providing Romanian authorities the opportunity to make payments even after the end of this year.

According to the information held by AFIR, there are currently 3269 contracts funded through PNDR 2014-2020, at various stages of implementation. By extending the project execution period, the number of investments made through PNDR and the absorption rate of funds allocated to Romania are expected to increase.

The extension of the project execution period after December 31, 2023, will be granted on the condition that the project's implementation stage is at least 30%, demonstrated by the payments made by AFIR and/or the beneficiaries to goods, services, and works providers.

The extension of the execution period can be granted for a maximum duration of 1 year, with the possibility of further extension until December 31, 2025, depending on the project's implementation stage and feasibility of meeting the final eligibility deadline for expenses, while complying with the procedural conditions provided for approving the extension (conditions for beneficiaries who have received advances and penalty payments).

For other contracts concluded based on the 2014-2020 allocation (except for transitions) related to sub-measures 6.1, 9, 16, and those concluded within the LEADER approach, whose approved execution period was shorter than the procedural deadline, the extension can be granted until the completion of the 2, 3, or 5 years of execution, according to the procedures in force.