Romania – EU Update

Romanians rank first in terms of positive perception of EU image

Romania ranks first among the European Union (EU) member states in terms of positive perception of the EU image, with 67% of the Romanians having expressed a favourable opinion of the European body, shows the Eurobarometer 69 study conducted over March – May 2008 and released on June 24.

Raking second after Romania, with 65% positive opinions was Ireland, that is a country which had not so long ago rejected the Treaty of Lisbon.While considering the European Union as a whole, 48% of the body’s citizens said they have a positive image about the Union, 35% said they have a neutral image and 15% a negative one.


Romania has to get involved in EU’s decision-making process as regards development funds

Romania has to benefit by the fact that, as EU member state, gets involved, together with the European Commission, in the decision-making process referring to the way of spending the European development funds, head of the Director General for Development of the European Commission Stefano Manservisi said.

At a debate on "Romania - active actor in EU’s foreign action", Manservisi said that the country has to combine its involvement in the field of granting support for development at a bilateral level (5 million euros in 2007) with that that made through the funds that contribute to the EU budget for development (80 million euros in 2007).

Manservisi said that Romania also has other advantages to offer, besides the simple financial help, such as its political and economic experience gathered during the transition process from totalitarianism to democracy, the state of law, the efforts deployed to increase the financial assistance level, the experience of the collaboration with the neighbouring countries (such as Serbia).

"It is, after all, in our best interest, in the best interest of all Europeans, to have stable and peaceful partners all over the world, trustful political allies and prosperous clients," Manservisi said, adding that "investing in development means investing in our own future."

The EC official has been paying a visit to Romania ahead of a delegation of community government representatives. On June 25 he met ForMin Lazar Comanescu, Finance Minister Varujan Vosganian, chief of the PM’s cabinet Mihnea Constantinescu, state secretary for foreign trade Stefan Imre and other officials.


EU decision to slash some pesticides in use puts Romanian farmers at disadvantage

The decision of EU Ministers of Agriculture to have certain pesticides removed from the market puts Romanian farmers at disadvantage because it would result in the marketing of products considered safer, but which are also more expensive, driving production costs significantly higher.

Alongside another three member states, Romania abstained from voting on ground that the new regulation is too harsh and will request a three to four-year transition period for the enforcement of this law.

The Council of EU Ministers of Agriculture held in Luxembourg approved a bill banning the use of at least 70 pct of the pesticides that are currently on the market, especially of those that might pose a cancer hazard.

Minister of Agriculture Dacian Ciolos said that Romania could adjust to the new requirements only if given a three to four-year transition period and said he will negotiate this aspect with representatives of the other member states.

On the other hand, farmers claim the ban on a substantial part of pesticides currently in use could have disastrous effects on Romanian agriculture.

President of the National Federation of Agriculture Producers Viorel Matei says small subsidizes and high fuel prices, to which more expensive pesticides might add now, could leave many farmers broke.

The adopted bill will go back to the European Parliament to be discussed in a plenary meeting, most probably in autumn.