Bulgarian govt, two agri groups ink agreement amid farmer protests

The agreement, signed with the Bulgarian Agrarian Chamber and the National Grain Producer Association, provides for financial aid for the fruits, vegetables, livestock, dairy, meat, beekeeping and grain production sectors to ensure liquidity, with the first payments to be made by April 22, the government said in a press release on Monday.

The government has also committed to carry out a thorough assessment of the farmers' financial requirements prior to drafting the 2025 state budget, and to advocate for Bulgarian agricultural interests within EU policies.

The agreement, however, was rejected by a committee comprising representatives of 26 agricultural organisations, state news agency BTA reported. The committee insisted on policies safeguarding the interests of all agricultural sectors and the immediate resignation of minister Kiril Vatev, saying that protests will continue in Sofia and at 25 road junctions across the country.

Since the beginning of February, Bulgarian farmers, like agricultural producers across Europe, have been blocking major roads in protest against what they see as lack of adequate government support against excessive environmental regulations and cheap produce imports from non-EU countries like Ukraine.