Bulgaria continues to insist on a fair valuation of external convergence and the addition of funds to the safeguarded budget for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The Minister of Agriculture and Food Plamen Abrovsky stated thiя during the meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council held in Luxembourg. He added that the country maintains the position that the application of reductions and payment caps should not affect the competitiveness of farmers. "The thresholds for reducing payments are too low, and this will impact producers who contribute to food security," the Minister further noted. According to him, work must continue with a focus on ensuring a level playing field, genuine simplification, and sufficient funding.
"In 2010, I participated in a Council meeting for the first time as an expert. Over the past 16 years, I have observed with interest how the decisions made here reflect on reality; the more we talked about reducing the administrative burden, the heavier it was felt at the farmer level," stated Minister Abrovsky. According to him, over these 16 years, the changes in the CAP should have made our European farmers more resilient and competitive on foreign markets, but instead, conditions for competition among themselves were created. "Yes, every country has its specifics and needs flexibility, but this should not come at the expense of our overall competitiveness and our common food sovereignty," he further remarked.
During the meeting, Minister Abrovsky called for specific support for rose production within the framework of the post-2027 CAP. He stated that it is necessary to create conditions for the preservation and sustainable development of the sector. Minister Abrovsky emphasized that the production of Bulgarian rose oil is a traditional livelihood with over 300 years of history, which distinguishes the country within the European Union and globally. He noted that in certain regions of the country, specific knowledge and skills for producing high-quality planting material, cultivating the plantations, harvesting the rose blossoms, and distilling the rose oil have been preserved through generations. According to him, these traditions and accumulated expertise are what make Bulgarian rose oil a recognizable symbol of Bulgaria and the EU worldwide. "Rose production is part of Bulgaria's cultural, historical, and economic heritage. It is necessary to take measures to preserve this unique sector and to ensure conditions for its sustainable development," Minister Abrovsky concluded.
Minister Abrovsky briefed the Council members on the domestic market situation. "Agricultural producers are facing serious challenges—adverse weather events, damage to agricultural land, market instability, and rising production costs," Minister Abrovsky pointed out. He noted that the situation in the milk market shows a worrying trend of declining purchase prices, which is an indicator of a deepening imbalance, and he stressed the need to utilize the full range of tools of the Common Market Organization when this can ease the pressure on EU producers. The Minister added that appropriate market measures for rapid intervention should be implemented, including the use of funds from the agricultural reserve. "In May, a slight price increase was observed for the main grain and oilseed crops in the country, linked to forecasts of reduced global production in the upcoming marketing year, as well as rising prices of energy sources and fertilizers on international markets," Minister Abrovsky further indicated.
Within the framework of his participation in the Council, Minister Abrovsky held a bilateral meeting with Martin Heydon, Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine of Ireland, which will hold the next Presidency of the Council of the EU. Minister Abrovski emphasized that the CAP must preserve its common character. His Irish counterpart supported him, stating that the renationalization of this common policy carries risks. Minister Abrovsky familiarized the incoming Presidency with the need to preserve rose production in Bulgaria, which is unique to the entire EU. Minister Heydon indicated that the Presidency shows understanding regarding this Bulgarian priority.