Bulgaria will seek the support of German for limit of subsidies under direct payments per area. This was announced by Minister of Agriculture and Food Dr. Miroslav Naydenov after meeting with Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer protection of Federal Republic of Germany Ilze Eigner in MAF. Determination of limit on direct payments is necessary because 3.4 % of beneficiaries in Bulgaria receive 78% of subsidies and some even take funds amounted to financial resource for supporting of animal breeding. This is not fair, said Minister Naydenov. In Germany there is no such problem because the average arable area there is much less – about 50 hectares, this became clear during the meeting. The largest farms in Germany are 4 – 5 000 hectares while in Bulgaria there are farmers who till nearly 100 000 hectares. This lead to imbalance and creating of agro millionaires at the expense of small farmers, said Minister Naydenov. On this issue Minister Eigner is committed to seek balance and regional approach in future Common Agricultural Policy, taking into account the specifics of separate State Members in the EU.
Germany and Bulgaria have common positions on most of the legislative changes of CAP after 2014. The main difference is in terms of payments schemes, related to the processing. Germany insist on they to be up 5% while Bulgaria – 10%.
Currently in Bulgaria there is no other mechanism to support the sector sheep breeding, vegetable producing, fruit growing, poultry, besides the use of 10% of funds for direct payments, which to be provided for schemes, related to the producing, noted Minister.
Minister Eigner noted that the today’s meeting is very important and she said that between the two countries must have an active and direct dialog. She stressed that together with Minister Naydenov have tried to close the positions of Bulgaria and Germany on the future of CAP. Both sides are for maintenance the current budget of CAP and reducing of bureaucracy.
Later, the two Ministers saw the second fair of Bulgarian agriculture, which is held for the second year in front of the MAF building and it coincides with the celebration of 100th anniversary of independent establishment of Ministry of Agriculture in Bulgaria.