Romania to push for its candidate to retain top EU agriculture post

Romania has indicated that it will push for the present EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Dacian Ciolos, to run for a second term.

While political opinion in Dublin remains strong that Environment Minister Phil Hogan would make a good candidate, sources in Brussels reveal that the EU has been very impressed with Mr Ciolos, whose candidature for the portfolio will also receive strong support from other member states.

Both the centre-right Romanian president Traian Basescu and the Socialist prime minister Victor Ponta announced their official support for Mr Ciolos running for a second term.