site.btaAgriculture Minister: Support For Ukraine Should Not Lead to Losses and Bankruptcies for Bulgarian Farmers

Caretaker Minister of Agriculture and Food Georgi Tahov told Bulgarian journalists in Brussels, where he participated in a meeting with his EU colleges, that the Council of Ministers firmly supports the people of Ukraine, but this should in no way cause losses and bankruptcies of local producers. 

In the first six months of this year alone, more than 2.6 million tonnes of eggs were imported into Bulgaria from Ukraine, and this is five times more compared to the same period last year, Tahov noted. He added that these eggs were sold below market prices and this led to tension and bankruptcies among Bulgarian poultry farms. "This was the reason why we requested a temporary suspension of imports while we regulate the market in the country," Tahov explained, noting that the European Commission will decide how long import will be suspended.

"The EC must find that intersection where the rights of our farmers are protected and the necessary assistance is provided at the same time. We are firmly behind Ukraine and support providing aid," added the Minister.

He noted that on Monday, the EC decided to approve the transfer of EUR 90 million from the previous EU budget to the current rural development programme. This means that Bulgarian agriculture will receive EUR  90 million through investment support schemes, which will allow us an increase in the budgets for current and future intakes under the various schemes and sub-measures, Tahov said. 

Minister Tahov also informed that the European Commission proposed to grant EUR 10.9 million of crisis aid for Bulgarian farmers who suffered from unfavorable climatic conditions in the spring and summer of 2023.  After the final decision, which is expected on October 7, a total of over EUR 200 million will go to Bulgarian agriculture.

Takhov added that Monday's EC proposal to grant EUR 10.9 million to Bulgarian farmers is based on an analysis by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.