site.btaProtest in Support of Agriculture Minister, Bulgarian Production Held in Front of European Commission Office in Sofia
A protest under the slogan “In Defence and Support of Bulgarian Production!” was held in front of the Representation of the European Commission (House of Europe) in Sofia on Friday. The area around the building was temporarily cordoned off, but traffic was later restored.
The demonstration was attended by Agriculture and Food Minister Georgi Tahov and European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen, who earlier in the day inaugurated the reconstructed M-1 main irrigation canal – part of the Trakiets irrigation system near the village of Konush in the region of Haskovo.
Commissioner Hansen emphasized that farmers play a key role in ensuring food security, making them vitally important.
According to Ventsislav Varbanov, Chair of the Bulgarian Association of Agricultural Producers, the timing and location of the rally were connected to the visit of the EU Commissioner. “We stand here side by side – farmers, processors, food producers, and traders,” Varbanov said, noting that for the first time all are united by a single goal: to preserve Bulgarian production, however limited it may be, and to prevent any restrictions that could lead to market losses or force farmers out of business. He added that participants were also there to demonstrate their support for Minister Tahov and his team.
Dimitar Zorov, Chair of the National Union of Cattle Breeders in Bulgaria, said that 38 organizations have now joined the declaration of support for the minister.
Commenting on the issue of vaccinating sheep and goats against sheep pox and goat pox, Zorov explained that most animals are currently pregnant, and vaccination at this stage could cause severe side effects, including the loss of offspring, making this the worst possible time for such a measure. He added that if the animals were vaccinated, non-EU countries would stop importing Bulgarian dairy products. “All of us protesting today are against the vaccine,” he said.
Commissioner Hansen, representatives of the Agriculture and Food Ministry, and members of agricultural industry organizations are holding a meeting at the House of Europe to discuss current issues and challenges facing the sector.
On Thursday, the National Grain Producers Association announced plans to stage protests nationwide, withdrawing its confidence in the leadership of the Agriculture and Food Ministry and calling for the resignations of Minister Georgi Tahov, Deputy Minister Ivan Kapitanov, and Petya Slavcheva, Deputy Executive Director of the State Fund Agriculture, citing unfulfilled commitments and a complete lack of political will to address sectoral problems.
Also on Thursday, the National Sheep and Goat Breeders’ Association said it, too, has lost confidence in the leadership of the Agriculture and Food Ministry and the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency and remains in protest readiness, demanding resignations.
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