We specialize in marketing and brokerage of large assets and atypical land transactions as well as implementation of projects requiring agricultural expertise. One of our partners is specialized in guiding investors in farms and agricultural operations to obtains EU non-returnable subsidies.

LEADER INV. & CONSTING CAN HELP YOU TO QUALIFY FOR STRUCTURAL AS WELL AS PUBLIC FUNDING FOR YOUR PROJETCS 

If interested, please contact us. 

Hereunder some information thereon.  

For the period of 2007 – 2013 Romania was allocated Structural Funds amounting to EUR 30 billion. Out of this amount EUR 7.1 billion represent subventions for agriculture. 

The European money will be given for four development axis: 

The first development axis 

Will have to focus on modernizing farms, agricultural product management, support for small producing units, rural infrastructure and farmer’s advising.

The second development axis 

Concerns the environment protection, i.e. will finance some projects in ecological agriculture and will support farms placed in natural destabilised areas.

The third development axis 

Will support the rural development by creating small enterprises in rural environment, by promoting non-agricultural activities in the country side (agricultural tourism), by making possible village renovation and for the protection of cultural rural Romanian values.  

The fourth development axis

The way that Structural Funds are allocated in Romania. 

Structural Funds and decentralized management 

The Commission transfers the funds to member states when the development programmes are adopted and actually implemented. To encourage the launch of a new programme, the EU makes a payment of 7% when the programme is officially adopted. The Member States must then apply for payments to the Commission, which reimburses only certified expenditures. 

For each programme the member state designates a managing authority responsible for selecting projects. The Structural Funds are not directly allocated to the projects chosen by the Commission. While the main priorities of a development programme are defined in cooperation with the Commission, the choice of projects and their management are solely the responsibility of the national and regional authorities.

Once projects have been selected, they are financed from both national and Community funds, since programme budgets are always composed of EU funds as well as national sources (public or private).

EU versus member states decision  

All the members of the Union, acting on a proposal from the European Commission negotiated with the European Parliament, decide on the budget for the Structural Funds and the basic rules governing its use. The Structural Funds are broken down by country and by Objective. The areas which may benefit from these funds are defined by the Commission in agreement with the countries concerned.

The Commission proposes common thematic guidelines. Following these decisions, each Member State or region draws up its proposals and groups them in a development plan of areas in difficulty or of vulnerable social groups by taking into account the thematic guidelines of the Commission. When the Member States and the Commission have agreed on all the issues of such proposals, The Commission adopts the resulting plans. The details of these programmes are decided by the national or regional authorities. Once approved, the projects are launched according to the operational methods. The authorities monitor the progress of the programmes, keep the Commission informed and provide the proof that the money is used in an appropriate way (certification of expenditure). The Commission keeps track of the audit systems and gradually pays out the remainder of the contribution from the Structural Funds.

Who decides what projects receive EU Structural Funds? 

To attract EU Structural Funds each Member State must draw up and submit to the European Commission a plan pointing out its investment priorities. This plan forms tha basis of negotiations between the Member State Community Support Framework (CSF). The CSF document includes an outline of priorities for action, objectives and targets, anticipates financial resources and evaluates the control systems.

What areas of activity are funded by the Structural Funds? 

The National Development Plan (NDP) is divided into a number of different Operational Programmes (OP). The Structural Funds are contributing to investment under each OP.

How can subjects apply for Structural Funds? 

The projects supported by the Structural Funds under NDP/CSF are open to individuals, Educational Establishments, Local & Regional Authorities, companies or other groups.

They can submit applications for funding. Qualifying criteria and application procedures vary depending on the type of activity. Funding applications are processes by the Government Departments, State Agencies and Local/Rural Development Agencies responsible for implementing activities under the NDP/CSF.

How much money can be paid into a project?

The contribution of the Funds to a project depends on the type of project and where it takes place. Basically each project needs co-financing. Therefore besides EU funds also national funds are needed. It is normal that the applicant finds the remaining funding which has to include public funding in order to qualify for Structural Funds contribution