Publications
Romania and the Common Agricultural Policy:
The future of small scale Romanian farming in Europe
A report made by Eco Ruralis
Written by Douglas Knight
October, 2010
Summary
Romania is a country of peasants, with a long deep history in peasant agriculture, which affects everything in the country, including its art, culture, and the way Romanians think. This has survived despite the best efforts of past empires and communists to destroy it. Today peasant culture remains the bedrock of the Romanian people in a changing time.
Romanian agriculture today is plagued by many problems. Some of the problems are a result of underdevelopment, and some of them having to do with the communist history. The problems we see as having the largest effect on Romania today are: the lack of vision behind policies, the poor implementation of regulations and the lack of stability, the dichotomy between large and small farmers in Romania, the persistence of poverty and aging in the Romanian countryside, a lack of quality rural development, bureaucratic and credit issues, import and export disparities with other European countries, some specific environmental issues, and regional differences within Romania.
The Common Agricultural Policy was created to build a flat and fair agricultural market across Europe which could keep Europe food-secure. The CAP has been successful at its goals in Western Europe, but now faces a myriad of challenges. It has been very difficult to implement the CAP in new market states such as Romania, and the results have been varied and undetermined so far. In Romania the CAP has mostly benefited the large farmers who were already thriving before EU accession, and for most of the small farmers in Romania there has been little effect. This is partly because of the way the CAP is structured and partly a result of implementation (or a lack of implementation).
The reform of the CAP in 2013 represents an opportunity for European Union and Romanian officials to take a step forward in protecting peasant agriculture and including peasants in the future development or Europe. There are divisions in the CAP debate, and it will not be easy, but we feel that it is possible to make decisions which will create a new type of development, away from the productivist model of agriculture. We call for less focus on production, and better rural development policies. We would like not just a better CAP, but for the Romanian government to be better at implementing the CAP. Some good steps forward would be: a limit on direct payments, clear labeling of countries of origin, and equal treatment of farmers from both Eastern and Western Europe. We do not support any re-nationalization of agriculture policies under a reformed CAP. In Romania we would like to see more money for rural development, a better absorption of funds, and more focus on axes three and four of pillar two of the CAP, with specific emphasis on local action groups.
We look forward to a future where peasants continue to play an integral role in providing food to Romania, and where Romania maintains its food sovereignty. As the bedrock of Romanian history and culture, we refuse to envision a future without an active peasantry.
Download the complete report HERE
The future of small scale Romanian farming in Europe
A report made by Eco Ruralis
Written by Douglas Knight
October, 2010
Summary
Romania is a country of peasants, with a long deep history in peasant agriculture, which affects everything in the country, including its art, culture, and the way Romanians think. This has survived despite the best efforts of past empires and communists to destroy it. Today peasant culture remains the bedrock of the Romanian people in a changing time.
Romanian agriculture today is plagued by many problems. Some of the problems are a result of underdevelopment, and some of them having to do with the communist history. The problems we see as having the largest effect on Romania today are: the lack of vision behind policies, the poor implementation of regulations and the lack of stability, the dichotomy between large and small farmers in Romania, the persistence of poverty and aging in the Romanian countryside, a lack of quality rural development, bureaucratic and credit issues, import and export disparities with other European countries, some specific environmental issues, and regional differences within Romania.
The Common Agricultural Policy was created to build a flat and fair agricultural market across Europe which could keep Europe food-secure. The CAP has been successful at its goals in Western Europe, but now faces a myriad of challenges. It has been very difficult to implement the CAP in new market states such as Romania, and the results have been varied and undetermined so far. In Romania the CAP has mostly benefited the large farmers who were already thriving before EU accession, and for most of the small farmers in Romania there has been little effect. This is partly because of the way the CAP is structured and partly a result of implementation (or a lack of implementation).
The reform of the CAP in 2013 represents an opportunity for European Union and Romanian officials to take a step forward in protecting peasant agriculture and including peasants in the future development or Europe. There are divisions in the CAP debate, and it will not be easy, but we feel that it is possible to make decisions which will create a new type of development, away from the productivist model of agriculture. We call for less focus on production, and better rural development policies. We would like not just a better CAP, but for the Romanian government to be better at implementing the CAP. Some good steps forward would be: a limit on direct payments, clear labeling of countries of origin, and equal treatment of farmers from both Eastern and Western Europe. We do not support any re-nationalization of agriculture policies under a reformed CAP. In Romania we would like to see more money for rural development, a better absorption of funds, and more focus on axes three and four of pillar two of the CAP, with specific emphasis on local action groups.
We look forward to a future where peasants continue to play an integral role in providing food to Romania, and where Romania maintains its food sovereignty. As the bedrock of Romanian history and culture, we refuse to envision a future without an active peasantry.
Download the complete report HERE
