Bulgaria seeks EU aid for dairy producers

Bulgaria will demand measures in support of all dairy producers in the EU at the official meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council to be held on 26 January.

This course of action was approved on 21 January by the Bulgarian government.

At the Council meeting the European Commission will present information on the Russian import sanctions of agriculture production from the EU.

In August Russia banned food imports from the EU, US, Australia, Canada and Norway in response to Western sanctions imposed over Moscow’s support for Ukrainian rebels.

Bulgarian farmers are suffering losses as a result of the implemented policy, and the sectors most severely affected are dairy, and fruit and vegetable production, as pointed out by the Bulgarian government's press office.

Additionally, Bulgaria would support the implementation of export subsidies for cheese production. They are seen as a means for protection of traditional Bulgarian delicacies.

Representatives will also demand a temporary state aid for dairy producers in order for mass bankruptcies and losses of livelihood in a number of regions to be avoided.

For the sector of fruit and vegetable growing  Bulgaria insists on the extension of the deadline for the temporary emergency measures for maintaining production. The proposal is for the measures to continue up until the moment when producers, affected by Russian embargo, will reach the 3,000 T limit.