"The European Union’s reply is a definite no. (The subsidy for fertilizer) is seen as state aid. This goes for the entire year, for all years,” Sarbu said in a press conference.
He added Romania has also requested the extension by three years of the interval in which certain state aids can be granted in agriculture.
"We have unfolded actions to extend the interval by three years, given the difficult financial situation in Romania," Sarbu said.
Romania can apply, for three years since the accession to the EU, until 2010, a series of state aid measures in agriculture.
Sarbu added that, despite complaints from farmers and chemistry unions against the lack of subsidies, Romania cannot afford to grant these subsidies.