On the 1st and 2nd December, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Dacian Ciolos was in Romania where he met with representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as well as with traditional product producers. The discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture focused on the management of the two Romanian payment agencies (APIA – Payment and Interventions in Agriculture Agency and APDRP – Payment Agency for Rural Development and Fisheries) and also on that of the Management Authority of the Romanian National Rural Development Programme (PNDR). The current situation of the European funds absorption in agriculture and rural development was analysed in an objective manner by both parts, concrete measures for avoiding disengaging funds being discussed.
In the discussion with the representatives of producers, the focus was on what needs to be done by both the Ministry of Agriculture through the General Direction of Agricultural Policies and the producers of traditional products in order to authorise and certify Romanian products at European level. Both Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) and Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) were brought into question. In an interview given by Commission Ciolos to a national journal in Romania, he mentioned that Romania’s potential in regards to traditional products is immense and that and the cereal stock markets. A key thing in making this a reality is organising the producers, Ciolos said.
