Farmers' discontent: Bulgaria will insist on changes in the regulation for imports from Ukraine

Protests by grain producers and other farmers on March 30 blocked the Danube bridge at Rousse and Vidin. A protest procession with tractors was also held in Pernik. The farmers' demands remain unchanged - to stop the import of grain, sunflower seeds and corn from Ukraine.

Second day of Bulgarian grain producers’ protest against imports from Ukraine

The industry discussed their problems with the caretaker Minister of Agriculture, Yavor Gechev, at a meeting with President Rumen Radev. They were promised that Bulgaria would insist on changing the regulations and imposing charges on items from Ukraine.

Following the large-scale protests by grain farmers today and yesterday, the caretaker government promised to take urgent measures. Bulgaria will insist on additional financial support from the European Commission, as the damage to producers in Bulgaria is more serious than expected. This was stated after the meeting with the President by the Minister of Agriculture, who joined the protests yesterday.

"After our intervention, the Commission said that it would allocate additional 70 million euros, some of which will be in Bulgaria, but against the background of the farmers' losses, it is extremely small," explained Yavor Gechev.

Ukraine does not have to comply with European requirements for growing grain, sunflowers, corn and other raw materials. They use much cheaper fertilisers and that is why their products reach Bulgaria at such low prices.

"We used to buy fertilisers at 2100-2200 BGN, now they buy our produce for 0,40 BGN, they don't cover our costs. One more year like this and we are all doomed to bankruptcy," said farmer Assen Dzhigalski.

"There are mechanisms, there are levers. If there is a will, there is a way. If you don’t want to something, you will find an excuse. I am sure the state can find a way," said Radoslav Hristov, chairman of the Thracian Union of Grain Producers.

There will be measures, but they cannot happen from today for tomorrow because they depend on changes in European regulations. Yavor Gechev specified that the Bulgarian state's position was sent to the European Commission yesterday. Namely - if there are excessive imports of a certain commodity, our country should be able to apply deposits, which after the exit and entry into other countries - to be refunded. There is also the separate issue of the quality of imported products.

"The control that is carried out at the entry borders cannot protect the Bulgarian consumer from the products that are imported," said Krasimir Avramov, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Grain Producers.

In reopening the transit corridors for Ukrainian goods, Bulgaria has prevented a situation where goods actually remain on the Bulgarian market and undercut competition. Even if the EC starts changing the regulations tomorrow, they will not come into force until the summer. Despite the state's best efforts and good dialogue with farmers, protests are scheduled for tomorrow as well.

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