site.btaSofia Stands by Kyiv but Farmers' Survival Should Not Be Put at Risk

The Government approved Tuesday Bulgaria's position for the forthcoming Agriculture and Fisheries Council scheduled to be held on May 30 in Brussels. Among other things, the Council is to take stock of the current agrifood market.

Bulgaria stands in solidarity with Ukraine, but the competitiveness and survival of farmers should not be put at risk, the position states. According to it, a sustainable long-term solution has to be found to ensure the competitiveness of European farmers and the normalisation of the market in relation to the current situation in Bulgaria and the other front-line member states. When extraordinary measures being taken, then Member States should be given the possibility to define the categories of beneficiaries, the methodology and the criteria for granting financial aid, as well as to ensure a simplified implementation regime, with the procedures simplified as much as possible and a quick mechanism for receiving the aid. There is also a clear trend of difficulties in the dairy and honey sectors, but also in other livestock subsectors.

It is essential to ensure the transit function of the solidarity corridors to other member states and third countries. It is crucial that the European Commission continues to monitor imports of other sensitive agricultural food products from Ukraine and that preventive measures are quickly put in place, if necessary, the Bulgarian position also states.

Bulgaria calls for an amendment to the Temporary Crisis Framework in support of the economy after Russia's aggression against Ukraine, increasing the limit of EUR 250,000 per farm to allow support for all producers affected by the crisis.