CRPE presents the results of a new qualitative and quantitative research on agricultural cooperatives in Romania. The research had as a main objective the evaluation of funding needs and access to the markets among agricultural cooperatives in Romania, with a focus on new cooperatives set up over the past 5 years.
The CRPE study shows that, although self-financing and member support are starting points, bank loans remain difficult to access due to the strict requirements of financial institutions, the lack of specialized financial instruments, and the reduced repayment capacity. Non-reimbursable European funds, especially those from the National Rural Development Program (NRDP) 2014-2020, have been essential for the development of the agricultural cooperatives sector, but the National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2023-2027 still has unused resources.