EC plans 27 mln euro aid for Bulgarian, Romanian farmers

The financial support, to be provided from the EU's agricultural reserve, will consist of payments of 16.75 million euro to Bulgaria and 10.05 million euro to Romania, the Commission said in a statement on Monday.

An additional 29.5 million euro in aid is earmarked for farmers in Poland. The grants may be matched up to 100% by state aid in each of the countries.

The draft measure, which is currently being discussed with member states, is subject to approval by the committee meeting for the common organisation of agricultural markets scheduled on March 30. If the measure is approved, payments should be made to farmers in the three countries by September 30, the Commission added.

Bulgaria has called for an increased support from the EU's common agricultural reserve, in light of difficulties faced by local farmers as a result of excessive grain imports from Ukraine, in particular maize, the Bulgarian agriculture ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

($ = 0.9266 euro)