The special commission for working out a package of legislative amendments in support of the farmers identified solutions to a part of agricultural producers’ problems and the package consisting initially of four bills is to be considered by Parliament next week, IPN reports.

After the July 16 meeting of the commission, Head of Parliament Andrian Candu said they managed to identify solutions to most of the problems reported by the farmers. “We reached a preliminary agreement that the legislative body next week will discuss the commission’s report and will adopt the bills that need the Government’s appraisal in the first reading and the laws that do not need the appraisal in the second reading. We are yet to solve the problem of augmentation of the agriculture subsidization fund, but we are having discussions with the Ministry of Finance and I’m optimistic that we will succeed in solving it,” he stated.

The Speaker noted that the MPs will make common cause with the farmers and will support the package of laws, regardless of the party of which these form part. In autumn, the commission will return to the subjects of common tax in agriculture and different subsidization methods.

The head of the National Farmers Federation of Moldova Valeriu Cosarciuc said the agriculture subsidization fund remained at the same level as no solutions were found in this respect. A bill to provide preferential loans to SMEs was drafted, but it is yet formal and needs to be improved.

Alexandru Slusari, head of the Union of Agricultural Producers Associations of Moldova, said that if solutions to all the problems reported by the farmers had been identified, most of the agricultural producers would have been satisfied. “I’m not fully contended as only a part of the important problems were solved. Those who will not have to pay income taxes will actually enjoy benefits. Other problems will be solved by making changes to the procedure for purchasing oil products. The problems of lending and subsidization remained unsolved,” he stated.

The special commission was set up by Parliament Decision. It was to finish the package of laws by July 15, while the package is to be adopted by Parliament by the end of its spring session.