State aid of up to €200,000 will be granted to agricultural producers who build protected spaces (greenhouses and solariums) with a minimum area of 1,200 square meters. This support is included in a legislative initiative submitted to Parliament by Liberal Deputy George Scarlat. The program will be implemented only after the draft law is approved by the legislature, promulgated by the President of Romania, and published in the Official Gazette.

A new state aid scheme for small farmers aims to support vegetable and fruit producers through the “Prima Seră” Program. The initiative belongs to the president of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food Industry, and Rural Development, George Scarlat, who submitted the draft to Parliament. The document must pass through the entire legislative process, including parliamentary approval, presidential promulgation, and publication in the Official Gazette, to come into force.

“Prima Seră” Program: Conditions for Accessing State Aid

Currently, the “Prima Seră” Program is in the legislative project phase initiated in Parliament. The document outlines the mandatory conditions small farmers must meet to access state aid, should the initiative become law. The scheme will be available to applicants who meet all of the following criteria:

a) Be legal entities, individuals registered in the agricultural register and fiscally registered under the provisions of Government Emergency Ordinance No. 44/2008, approved with amendments by Law No. 182/2016, as subsequently amended; agricultural cooperatives established, organized, and operating under Law No. 566/2004, as amended, and Law No. 31/1990, republished, as amended; or producer groups/organizations, as applicable.

b) Own and operate, either directly or through cooperative members/associates, land cultivated with vegetables and fruits intended for human consumption, on an area of at least 1,200 square meters.

c) Not be in liquidation or bankruptcy at the time of accessing state aid, with no definitive court decision declaring bankruptcy issued by that date.

d) Provide supporting documents proving that the greenhouse is newly established.

The project defines a greenhouse as a specially arranged structure with a roof and walls made of glass or plastic material for sheltering and cultivating plants that cannot tolerate cold.

State aid will be granted only once per beneficiary for newly established greenhouses covering a minimum area of 1,200 square meters.

“Prima Seră” Program: Aid Up to €200,000

The draft law establishing a state aid scheme for vegetable and fruit producers through the “Prima Seră” Program specifies that the state aid amount will represent 80% of the investment value. It will be granted only once and cannot exceed €200,000, calculated in lei at the exchange rate of the National Bank of Romania, for legal entities and individuals registered fiscally under the provisions of Government Emergency Ordinance No. 44/2008, approved with amendments by Law No. 182/2016, as amended. The same maximum applies to agricultural cooperatives established, organized, and operating under Law No. 566/2004, as amended, and Law No. 31/1990, republished, as amended, and producer groups/organizations.

The funds for the scheme will be provided from the state budget through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s budget. The state aid may be combined with other support forms granted under applicable European and national legislation. Applications for state aid must be submitted to institutions designated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development through methodological norms.