site.btaBlocking of Border Ensures Advantage for Greek Carriers

Blocking of Border Ensures Advantage for Greek Carriers

Sofia, February 8 (BTA) - The blocking of the border by the Greek farmers cannot exert a serious impact on the market of fruit and vegetables because it mostly Turkish products that are offered on the Bulgarian market, Slavi Trifonov, Chairman of the Bulgarian National Horticultural Union, said in an interview for BTA.

Trifonov alleged that the Greek farmers would not let Bulgarian carriers pass through the border but, at the same time, their carriers would cross the Bulgarian border undisturbed, which gives them an advantage and runs counter to the agreements at EU level. Trifonov also insists on harmonization of the legal framework with the EU one.

The expert quotes figures showing that only 15 per cent of the fruits and vegetables on the Bulgarian market are domestically produced, while 85 per cent are imported. During a certain period in the summer Greek-imported tomatoes and peaches prevail on the market because they are strongly subsidised. Unfortunately, Bulgaria failed to ensure such subsidies for these products during the EU accession negotiations. Trifonov warned that tomatoes and peaches, designed for processing, are offered as fresh products on the Bulgarian market.

According to him, the Bulgarian market has nothing to do with the organization of the European market. The by-laws have not been aligned to the EU law, Trifonov said mentioning in particular the Ordinance on Quality Control and Compliance.

In 2015, the subsidies in the animal husbandry sector stood at 326 million leva, while the one in the fruit and vegetable sector was 2 million leva.

Trifonov praised the recently launched website "Gradinaria" with an English-language version for on-line sale of fruit and vegetables. He noted that the quality of the products offered there is fully guaranteed. For the time being, the on-line exports are oriented mostly towards Romania. The farmers from Northern Bulgaria export almost 100 per cent of their produce to this country. Last year, the Romanians bought about 80 per cent of the cabbage produced in Bulgaria.

Asked about the share of bioproduction in the sector, Trifonov said that it accounts for less than 5 per cent.