“Romanian disillusionment will come from the fact that we will be unable to influence the agricultural policy with a commissioner who holds this portfolio. First of all, Romania has not applied convergent policies, clear strategies, but has remained archaic. Also, CAP will focus increasingly on a competitive formula, and Romania will be disadvantaged because it is not among the major decision-making or market players,” said the former head of the European Affairs Department, Vasile Puşcaş.
The Agriculture Commissioner will manage funds worth over €40 billion, or 41 percent of the whole of the European Union budget, according to data provided by the European Commission. This amount is equal to Romania’s general consolidated budget, which includes this year’s revenues worth €36 billion and expenses of €45 bln.
The nomination of Cioloş for the Agriculture portfolio was received with surprise and criticized by the press in some EU countries, considering that Romania had one of the highest error rates in managing EU funds for rural development. Romania’s economy, in which agriculture plays a major part, still has problems absorbing EU funds.
The President of the non-governmental organization, Pro-Democraţia, Cristian Pârvulescu, said that Cioloş has every chance of becoming Commissioner, while former Minister of Agriculture Ilie Sârbu said that Cioloş is well seen by European institutions because he is a specialist in this field.
Moreover Sârbu is optimistic about Cioloş’s ability to meet the requirements of such a position, because “he knows the problems [in the agricultural sector] well,” an opinion shared by the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso.
Cioloş told Realitatea TV that a Romanian Commissioner in this field can be an advantage for Romania. “It is clear that if I come from Romania, I have the history of the local agriculture, I have a vision about an agricultural policy that would continue to support the development of agriculture and the rural environment.” Cioloş further believes that the Common Agricultural Policy will have to take into account the “diversity of agricultures and the difference between the types of farmers” in the European Union.
