Sources: Barroso informed Romanian officials that they will not receive the agriculture portfolio

Vineri, 9 octombrie 2009, 16:15 English | Regional Europe

European Commission President Barroso informed Romanian officials that Romania will not receive the agriculture portfolio, sources at Bucharest and Brussels declared for HotNews.ro. Romanian officials received very clear signs for a while now that Romania will not obtain such a big portfolio due to its irregularities in EU fund management and Justice. Until Thursday, Romanian officials continued to claim that Romania puts forward Dacian Ciolos as an option.

Barroso informed that Romania will not receive the portfolio. On Thursday, when the Irish Times informed that France supports Ireland for the portfolio, Romanian officials still claimed that the only negotiation option remains Dacian Ciolos for agriculture.

On the other hand, European sources say that Romanian authorities should not receive the news with surprise, because there were signs leading to this conclusion. According to political sources, contacted by HotNews.ro, Romania's negotiation strategy was simple: we do not have any other option, only agriculture.

President Basescu declared in early September that Romania has other options as well, but he refused to reveal it.