Bulgarian farmers block roads over frozen EU subsidies

Almost a month of protests culminated yesterday (21 August), when Bulgarian milk producers set up roadblocks in retaliation for the loss of millions of euros of EU subsidies following last month’s decision by the European Commission to punish Sofia for its failure to fight corruption and organised crime.

Farmers from all over the country gathered for the protest, setting up roadblocks on the nation’s main roads to disrupt traffic in the high tourist season. Entrances to the capital Sofia were also blocked amid threats from farmers that they would enter the city with their livestock. Some are threatening to take their herds to Greece; others, simply to slaughter their animals. 

The situation has been fraught, with numerous rallies resulting in clashes with police and arrests ever since the Commission decided on 23 July to suspend EU aid worth hundreds of millions of euros as a financial sanction against Bulgaria for its failure to fight corruption and organised crime. Funds under three EU pre-accession programmes, including the SAPARD agricultural plan, have been suspended.

Protesting on 13 August in front of the Agriculture Ministry building in Sofia, the farmers had achieved a limited victory as the very next day, milk producers received their subsidies for March. But those for April, May, June and July still remain unpaid. The government first announced that it intended to cover EU-backed projects with a surplus from the state budget. Then the cabinet changed its position, saying it first needed to be given the green light from Brussels to pay the 60 million levs (€30 million) in extra subsidies for this year, which it fears could otherwise be seen as state aid. 

Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Plugchieva, quoted in German newspaper Die Welt two weeks ago, criticised Commission officials for going on holiday and making it difficult for Sofia to discuss the next steps after the EU froze some of its aid. 

“Our farmers cannot wait 15 days for a reaction from Brussels,” Plugchieva said. 

A Commission spokesperson told EURACTIV that since then, the EU executive had asked Bulgaria for additional information and obtained it. This has now been analysed and a decision is expected “in the next few weeks”. 

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