Farmers and the agriculture minister Florin Barbu reached an agreement during talks on Saturday. Farmers, who have staged protests in recent days, demanded higher subsidies and agreed on legislative changes allowing them to drive agricultural machinery using their car driving permits. Transporters have also staged protests on the Bucharest ring road and across the country. At a meeting with prime minister Marcel Ciolacu on Friday, they presented a list of 40 demands, including concrete solutions to the problems faced, mainly the rising cost of insurance policies and of fuel. Farmers have also called on the government to help them cope with the unfair competition posed by grain imports from Ukraine, saying they are yet to receive their state subsidies and that they have debts to the banks. The government has proposed a timetable for talks, which are due to continue.
