site.btaUPDATED Agriculture Minister: Intention to Liberalize Ukrainian Imports Should Be Considered Very Well

Agriculture Minister Kiril Vatev told journalists on Saturday that "generally there is serious tension among European Union (EU) countries and the European Commission (EC) should seriously consider this because it is already an open secret that an EU-wide liberalisation of Ukrainian imports is being prepared". Vatev met with vegetable growers in the village of Malo Konare in Pazardzhik, southcentral Bulgaria.

According to the minister, before proceeding to liberalization, the question should be answered whether Ukrainian imports are aligned with all EU standards that make production more expensive, all environmental requirements, green policies, etc. Vatev said there would be no country that would not react to this liberalization. He expressed hope that politicians in Brussels understand this very well and will react adequately.

He commented on the issue in connection with the protests of producers in Germany and described them as objective, because their basis is that not only the taxes on machinery have been raised, but also the refund of excise duty on fuel has been withdrawn.

In Malo Konare, Vatev got acquainted with the problems of local farmers during the winter season and the high energy costs, due to which farmers have given up growing greenhouse tomatoes during the winter season.

Vatev said that farmers need to get together to reduce costs and be competitive on the market. "We need to join our efforts to share the costs of the supply chain and the entire production from the farm to the table," he added.

He said that the Agriculture Ministry and the Agricultural Academy are working together to update the country's agro-ecological zoning for crop cultivation to take into account climate change and the most favourable conditions for the species and varieties concerned.