Abstract:
The Mountain Law, No. 197 of July 20, 2018, regulates the methods of protection and sustainable and inclusive
development of the mountainous area through the valorization of natural and human resources, improvement of living
standards, population stabilization, preservation of cultural identity, and increase in economic power at the local and
national levels, all while maintaining ecological balance and protecting the natural environment. The mountainous area
of Romania is considered a special, strategic, economic, social, and environmental territory of national interest. Due to
limitations in the use of agricultural land caused by altitude, climate conditions, slopes, geological substrate, high costs
of works, living conditions, infrastructure, business environment, access to education, and medical services, it is
considered disadvantaged. Through the Mountain Law, the approval of the Program for Encouraging Activities in the
mountainous area is granted, with an allocation of 1 billion euros over a period of 10 years from its entry into force,
from the state budget, through the budget of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. This Program serves
as a source of support for performance in the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. There are funding programs for
investments in three areas aimed at the residents of the mountainous area: Investments for the establishment of milk
collection and/or processing centers; Investments for the establishment of mountain pastures; Investments for the
establishment of primary collection and processing centers for forest fruits, mushrooms, and/or medicinal and aromatic
plants. Beneficiaries of the investment programs can be individual authorized persons, individual enterprises, family
enterprises, producer groups, agricultural cooperatives, legal entities, and legal entities engaged in agriculture and/or the
food industry. Eligible beneficiaries, regardless of the type of investment they choose, must cumulatively meet the
following conditions: operate in the mountainous area, access only one type of investment once throughout the entire
Program period, and not have received similar support under the National Rural Development Program (PNDR) 2014-
2020, including during the transition period.
