Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday that he is “concerned” that 30% of the country’s farmland is owned by foreigners.

“We’ll find ourselves looking down at the land and wonder whose is it, because it’s not ours anymore,” the President said in a conference at INDAGRA, the biggest agri-business fair in Romania.

He also said that the country needs a new legislation on land purchases, within the EU framework, that would protect Romanians. He said that a system of first refusal for the state and the local communities may work.

“No one stops us from making a law that allows Romanians to determine what is happening in Romania. The minimum is a right of first refusal for those who represent the state or the community, and if neither the state nor the community is interested in a particular parcel that is being sold, then we can think about what we can do next,” Iohannis said.

The authorities have been working on a new legislation on land purchases, one that would restrict land purchases by foreigners.

Agriculture minister Achim Irimescu said on Tuesday that the individuals would be able to purchase up to 150 hectares of farmland and companies would be allowed to buy no more than 1,500 hectares, according to a new draft bill that aims to regulate the sale of agricultural land.

The draft bill also includes a series of requirements that would limit the acquisitions of farmland in Romania, and that would not raise issues at European level, reports local Agerpres.

“Thus, the companies must have the residence in Romania, and for that you have to be European citizen of to have Romanian nationality. So there will also be several limitations in this situation. As for the citizens of third countries, they have the option of becoming Romanian citizens. For example, the largest agrifood manufacturer here is of Arab nationality, but he has the residence in Romania and his farm has 65,000 hectares,” Irimescu said.

Other conditions will also be included in the law. For example, those who buy farmland must have been farmers for at least five years, and 75% the firm's revenues should come from agriculture.

Romania may suspend farmland purchases by foreigners for three years

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com