Bulgarian grain producers ready to protest in front of the European Commission in Brussels

Bulgarian grain producers are ready to protest in Brussels if the European Union does not take measures to address the flow of wheat and sunflower seeds from Ukraine.

The Chairman of the Bulgarian Agrarian Chamber, Kostadin Kostadinov, told BNT on April 18 that the only solution is to stop imports from Ukraine or adopt measures to ensure that Ukrainian production transoits the country, which was the idea of the agreed grain corridors.

Bulgaria appears to be under a lot of pressure with the establishment of the transit corridors, and work has just started on a new regulation for the movement of Ukrainian grain.

"We have a lot of pressure here and a lot of imports of sunflower seeds. Half of the sunflower seeds that have come out of Ukraine has gone into Bulgaria," said Kostadin Kostadinov, chairman of the Bulgarian Agrarian Chamber.

The war has also disrupted normal trade in the Black Sea region under the long-term contracts of Bulgarian grain growers.

"At the moment, grain is cheaper, from both Russia and Ukraine because they are the two largest countries and Bulgaria's export outlet in the Black Sea is very difficult. All the multinationals that are buying are going for the cheaper grain," Kostadin Kostadinov added.

Grain producers believe that the issue with Ukrainian grain cannot be solved by paying compensations.

"We want measures such as transit fees, to guarantee these corridors, which is much more important than funds that are offered," said Kostadin Kostadinov.

The country's agricultural cooperatives are meeting in Arbanassi. Representatives of the agriculture ministry are expected to attend the meeting.

Bulgarian farmers block roads to protest duty-free grain imports from Ukraine

Protesting grain growers blocked the road to Romania near the village of Kardam

In protest against imports from Ukraine: Bulgarian farmers dump a trailer of sunflower seeds on the road to Kardam border crossing