Romanian Commissioner-Designate Dacian Ciolos Heard In EP Friday

After having been designated for the job at the end of November 2009, Ciolos said he felt honored to contribute to the „European construct” and stressed his designation is proof that even a Romanian candidate can be trusted with a field as important as agriculture.

Ciolos, a former agriculture minister, describes himself as „the result of the European Union’s enlargement towards Eastern Europe,” and has repeatedly voiced out the fact that his entire work has been under the auspices of the EU enlargement, which was essential in defining his personal and professional beliefs.

To achieve his goals as European Commissioner for Agriculture, Ciolos says he has identified three major priorities, which consist in „maintaining and recapitalizing a sustainable agriculture in the European Union,” „efficiently pushing the farming output toward the market, while spotting the mechanisms needed to guarantee a stable level of security for farmers in case of crisis,” and a „stronger rural development policy.”

According to Ciolos, „the European rural policy will have to support investments, innovations, diversify economic opportunities and revive resources and local players on the local market.”

Ciolos boasts a career based on agriculture and rural development and is convinced that being a European commissioner means bringing one’s contribution to the future of Europe, which, in his opinion, requires objectivity and commitment for the purpose of mutual welfare.

Late November 2009, European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso announced the structure of the new Commission. Barroso said, at that time, he is very pleased with Ciolos’ appointment, adding that Ciolos was by far the most competent of those proposed for the position, due to his long experience and modern outlook on agriculture and rural development.