site.btaAgriculture Minister: Farmers Need Incentives, Fair Conditions to Stay Competitive and Be Green

Minister of Agriculture and Food Georgi Tahov said that farmers need proper conditions and the right incentives to maintain competitive production with an adequate contribution to environmental protection. Tahov was speaking at a meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AGRIFISH), which is taking place in Luxembourg on Monday and Tuesday, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food reported.

During an open discussion on proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2027 and the so-called green architecture, Tahov emphasized the need for environmental requirements to be combined with real opportunities to increase the competitiveness of European farmers and maintain food security. He stressed that environmental criteria must be clear, achievable, and comprehensible, while maintaining a balance between the overall objectives at the European Union level and taking into account the national and regional specificities of individual Member States.

The Bulgarian Minister of Agriculture supported the exclusion of small and organic farms from the requirements of the farm management system, as well as the possibility of applying derogations from protective practices under certain conditions. He said that this move would provide greater flexibility and prevent farmers from being disadvantaged in cases of force majeure and inability to implement protective practices at farm level.

Tahov stated: "We need to ensure a level playing field for European farmers, regardless of their geographical location, while taking into account regional specificities and creating appropriate financial incentives for competitive production and environmental protection." He emphasized that maintaining environmental ambition requires an equivalent level of support and warned that national co-financing of measures that are entirely funded under the current CAP could lead to a potential shortfall in support.

Tahov reiterated Bulgaria's support for the joint statement by 17 Member States, initiated by Austria, on the future functioning of an integrated and strong CAP. He stressed that the rules for the CAP after 2027 should be negotiated within the framework of AGRIFISH and its preparatory bodies.