Being a farmer will no longer be enough to get subsidies under the EU's new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), agriculture minister Plamen Abrovski has warned. He told reporters that payments will go only to those who can prove their effort.
EU agriculture and fisheries ministers agreed a partial general approach on the new CAP in Luxembourg on Monday. The Council meeting lasted two days, and its main topic was the regulation on the CAP after 2027.
The previous development: Abrovski in Luxembourg as EU ministers seek partial position on farm policy after 2027
Support will rest on a radically different principle, Abrovski said. He said Europe does not want Bulgarian farmers to keep getting money just because they are farmers.
The minister called on producers to be as active as possible and to record every invoice, every income, cost and loss. He also advised them not to ignore the so-called statistical survey forms.
Abrovski made another appeal to livestock breeders because of sheep and goat pox: not to move lambs, sheep and goats from other EU member states without documents.
A vaccination plan against the disease has been drawn up and should be approved today or next week.
"Once it comes into force and we match the data in it, if it shows that vaccination is needed, we will start automatic vaccination," Abrovski said.