The calls for projects financed through Pillar II of the CAP are currently open for the financing line addressed to smaller farmers (all sectors) as well as for the line dedicated to investments in floriculture, medicinal and aromatic plants, until the end of October this year. Soon a new call for projects will open also for younger farmers who wish to consolidate and develop their farms. Funds are therefore meant to contribute to generational renewal, improving the competitiveness of smaller farmers and their connection to the market, as well as for the diversification of farming activities into sectors which have received less attention until now, such as the flower sector.
Currently available financing lines
A few CAP financing lines are currently open or under preparation in Romania, targeting small-scale farms, floriculture/herbs and soon also young farmers - being financed through Romania’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 (EU funds cofinanced by national funds).
As of September 28, 2026 the situation of the currently available financing lines was as follows:
* as of September 28, 2026
Although traditionally in the case of most the calls for projects the amount requested by potential beneficiaries exceeds by far the available budget - and calls are being closed shortly after they are opened - for the above measures the interest seems to be below expectations.
New measure to support young farmers expected on October 6
The public consultation of the Applicant’s Guide for Measure DR-12 ('Investments in the consolidation of holdings run by established young farmers, and farmers aged up to 45') has just been concluded, and the launching of this measure is expected on October 6, 2026.
Under Measure DR-12, young farmers (as well as farmers under 45 years) can benefit from non-repayable funding of up to 200,000 euros per project, for investments in the consolidation of their agricultural holdings, as recently announced by the Agency for the Financing of Rural Investments (AFIR).
This call for projects is expected to close on December 2, 2026. All documents necessary to apply for the current calls for projects are available, in Romanian only, on a dedicated page of the AFIR website.
Basic conditions to access young farmers financing
Financial support varies depending on the beneficiary’s category. ‘Non-repayable funding amounts to up to 200,000 euros per project, and financial support covers a maximum of 80 per cent of eligible costs for investments made by young farmers aged up to 41 at the time of submitting the funding application, and a maximum of 65 per cent of eligible costs for other categories of beneficiaries’, according to a press release of AFIR.
The project’s implementation period is of maximum three years, followed by five years of monitoring. The funds may be used by farmers to construct or modernise buildings, including protected spaces for agricultural crops, with the equipment and utilities necessary for carrying out agricultural activities. Also eligible are investments in facilities for the on-farm processing or storage of farm-produced agricultural products, the capacity of which must be correlated with the farm’s production capacity, as well as the establishment and modernisation of fruit farms, including the establishment and conversion of fruit orchards.
Interest yet to be seen
These measures could undoubtedly contribute to supporting a vibrant rural area in Romania, currently confronted with an aging population, migration and lack of sufficient attractive perspectives for the younger generation. The interest of the target beneficiaries in these support schemes is yest to be seen. Especially at times when farming is affected not only by climate changes, but also economic and political uncertainty (local, regional and global).
More information
For more information, you can reach out to the Netherlands Agricultural Network in Romania via: bkr-lvvn@minbuza.nl