The EU official noted the government does not take the required measures to solve this situation and it does not answer questions addressed by the European Commission on agriculture. Daul said in the EC report issued in June this year Romania was criticized because of the gaps existing in the payments system in agriculture.
“Romanian farmers could lose 25 percent of the EU funds because the authorities are not doing their jobs as they should. This is not a threat but a warning as there is the risk of activating the safeguard clause if authorities will not do their jobs right,” said Daul.
A report is due this week including check-ups concerning Romania and Bulgaria’s payment agencies for agriculture. People close to the situation said EC could ask Romania to solve these problems or the safeguard clause will be activated.
EC head, Jose Manuel Barroso, who visited the country at the beginning of September, talked about the progress made, but warned that the commission can still activate the safeguard clause if it feels there has been insufficient measures taken to comply with EU standards.
Romania joined the European Union on January 1, 2007 with the promise to continue with judicial reform, environmental protection and the fight against corruption. The European Union has three safeguard clauses - for justice and home affairs, general economy and the internal market - that it can initiate to limit access to post-accession funds.
Source: Newsin
