Romania agriculture minister resigns

BUCHAREST, Romania, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- Romania’s agriculture minister resigned just days after coming under investigation for alleged corruption and the EU demanding Romanian farm subsidies reforms.

On Monday the National Anti-Corruption Department said Agriculture Minister Decebal Traian Remes was being investigated by the general prosecutor's office for allegedly taking a bribe from a businessman seeking favorable treatment in the awarding of government contracts.

Remes resigned at the request of Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu, the Romanian news agency Rompres said Thursday.

On Wednesday EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel warned Romania, an EU member since January, to resolve irregularities in its farm aid system or face the potential loss of $141 million in EU subsidies, the EUobserver reported.