Romania's agriculture level is equal to that of an EU country in 1965. Elsewhere in the news, Romanian MEP Gigi Becali, owner of a dossier listing three offences and one accusation of freedom privacy, cannot leave to Brussels yet. Last but not least, the EU requests that Russia and Ukraine seal a long-term agreement, assuring a continuous gas flux towards Europe.

Romanian minister of Agriculture Ilie Sarbu believes Romania's agriculture level is equal to that of an EU country in 1965, Adevarul informs. According to the publication, Sarbu stated, in the opening of the international niche exhibition TimAgralim 2009, that there was a need of larger EU subventions for Romania's agriculture to catch up with the other EU states.

Romanian farmers currently receive 50 euros financial support. Sarbu requested for a 35 euros increase during the Agriculture and Fishing ministers' Council. Local producers received their 2007 subventions and granting the 2008 subventions will be concluded by June 30. Sarbu said that the small producers will have to create professional associations, which would facilitate their access to state funds.

The Court in Bucharest decided that Romanian MEP Gigi Becali, owner of a dossier listing three offences and one accusation of freedom privacy, cannot leave to Brussels yet, Cotidianulreads. According to Romanian TV channel Realitatea TV, the decision is final.

The politician, owner of Steaua football club, was shortly under arrest in April. He was released after he appealed in court. In 29 days, Gigi Becali can appeal again for a case reconsideration. After he will be officially named MEP, the court cannot forbid him to leave the country because of the immunity that comes with the MEP role.

The EU requests a Russia - Ukraine gas agreement, according to Adevarul. The European Commission wants Ukrainian company Naftogaz and Russian company Gazprom to seal a long-term agreement, assuring a continuous gas flux towards Europe, Reuters informs. The requests comes after Naftogaz president Igor Didenko declared that Ukraine could not afford paying Gazprom, by the end of the current year, for the state's inner gas needs and underground deposits.

Didenko asked the EU representatives to inform European executives that Ukraine needed a 4.2 billion dollars loan. He hopes the EU member states will cooperate and he will be able to settle for an agreement in the next coming two weeks. About 80% of the Russian gas exports in Europe pass through Ukraine.