The IT system problem at APIA

8.5.2015

Question for written answer E-007437-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Daniel Buda (PPE)

In the midst of the period for submission of agriculture grant applications, farmers are unable to submit such applications due to malfunctions in the IT system used for their registration by the Agency for Payments and Intervention in Agriculture (APIA). Many animal breeders complained about this problem. They first of all fear that they will not manage to submit the applications in due time, as the deadline is 15 June. The major problem is related to the transfer of data from the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA) regarding the animals eligible for payment. The same problem is also encountered in relation to transitional national aid. The problems of the online systems do not affect only animal breeders. Farmers in the fruit and vegetable sector face difficulties in accessing agri‐environment schemes.

If these problems are not resolved shortly, there will be considerable deficits in Romanian agriculture both in relation to animal breeding, and in relation to fruit and vegetable crops.

What are the solutions suggested by the Commission with regard to the further improvement of the IT system used by APIA?

Can such an IT system be purchased with EU funds?