European and national agricultural policies seek to mitigate structural imbalances in agriculture, but their impact is limited by economic realities. According to the European Commission, direct payments remain the main support instrument, yet their distribution largely reflects the structure of agricultural holdings.

In Romania, data from the Paying and Intervention Agency for Agriculture (APIA) show that a significant share of funds is concentrated in large holdings, as a direct result of eligible area. Instruments such as redistributive support and capping have partially reduced this imbalance, but without fundamentally changing the balance of economic power.

Small farms benefit from a degree of short-term protection, but remain vulnerable to economic and climatic shocks. The lack of capital and access to investment limits their capacity to adapt, while large farms are better able to absorb volatility.

For 2026, the challenge for public policies is not only the equitable distribution of subsidies, but the creation of functional mechanisms for economic integration.

(Photo: Freepik)