April 29, 2026

Deputy Prime Minister and interim Minister of Agriculture, Tánczos Barna, paid a working visit to the headquarters of AFIR – the Agency for Financing Rural Investments, where he met with Director General Adrian Ionuț Chesnoiu and the institution’s central leadership.

The meeting agenda focused on the main priorities for the immediate period, with an emphasis on accelerating payments to farmers, processors, and entrepreneurs benefiting from the CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027. The interim minister reconfirmed the application in 2026 of the special payment procedure previously approved by the Ministry of Finance, aimed at speeding up financial flows related to rural development programs.

A second key topic was the continuation of efforts to reduce bureaucracy in accessing European funds. Tánczos Barna stressed that simplifying procedures is essential for high-performing farmers to scale up their operations, significantly impact the trade balance, and contribute to reducing the deficit.

Strong results and real challenges

Director General Adrian Chesnoiu presented the current status of European funds implementation for agriculture and rural development, highlighting an absorption rate of over 98% achieved under PNDR—a result made possible through the sustained efforts of AFIR staff and close collaboration with the ministry’s leadership. Chesnoiu expressed confidence that this strong partnership will continue under the current ministerial leadership.

At the same time, he pointed out the main challenges faced by both beneficiaries and the agency: reopening funding for the reimbursement of crop and livestock insurance policies, launching dedicated interventions for young and small farmers, securing funds for pending reimbursement requests, and initiating financing for projects under the Energy Scheme.

Next steps

Following the meeting, working sessions will be organized with regional and county-level management to conduct a detailed assessment of the implementation status of European funds across the country. The identified priorities—reopening funding for insurance policies, launching interventions for young and small farmers, settling pending reimbursement claims, and initiating projects under the Energy Scheme—will be addressed in order of urgency, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

(Photo: Magnific)