The Alliance for Agriculture and Cooperation (AAC) requests that the Government establish a temporary moratorium on the postponement of the payment of taxes and social contributions owed by farmers and cooperatives, until July 31, 2026, and to suspend or reduce excise taxes on fuels, given the economic crisis induced as a result of the Gulf conflict.
"Given the economic crisis situation induced as a result of the Gulf conflict and the significant impact on the economic activity of farmers and agricultural cooperatives, the Alliance for Agriculture and Cooperation requests that the Romanian Government adopt, as a matter of urgency, the following exceptional measures: increasing the budget of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for 2026, at least by the inflation rate compared to 2025; temporarily suspending or reducing excise duties on fuels, in accordance with the provisions of European legislation on the taxation of energy products (according to the Comparative Annex on EU member states); immediately ensuring the necessary liquidity by accelerating the VAT reimbursement to producers in the agri-food sector, settling outstanding sick leave, paying state aid for outstanding diesel excise duty, and accelerating the payment of APIA payments," the organization said in a release.
Also, the farmers' representatives demand the granting of state guarantees for loans intended for working capital, necessary for the payment of diesel fuel, salaries and agricultural inputs.
According to the cited source, the escalation of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East has generated increased volatility on energy markets, materialized by a rapid increase in the price of diesel fuel, of over 1 leu/liter in recent days. This development occurs at a critical moment for the agricultural sector, namely the beginning of the 2026 spring agricultural campaign, a period characterized by high diesel fuel consumption.
"Any increase in fuel prices is directly and immediately reflected in the production costs borne by farmers. Diesel represents an essential input for agricultural activity, being used in all stages of the production process: land preparation, sowing, application of treatments, irrigation, harvesting and transport. The accelerated increase in fuel prices risks worsening the economic situation of farmers, in a context already marked by increased input costs, volatility of agricultural markets and the repeated impact of extreme weather events," the release added.
The Alliance representatives also underline that other EU member states have already adopted proactive measures and strategic decisions to protect domestic producers and national economies.
"In this context, the process of drafting and approving the state budget for 2026 represents a decisive moment for the adoption of urgent measures aimed at ensuring the economic stability of agricultural holdings and the continuity of national agricultural production," the cited document states.
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