Bulgaria is pushing for member states to retain independent authority over direct payment thresholds as European Union agriculture ministers debate the Common Agricultural Policy for 2028–2034. Agriculture and Food Minister Plamen Abrovski outlined the national position during a meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels, emphasizing that agricultural structures vary significantly across the bloc.
Bulgaria Demands Voluntary Subsidies Caps and Labor Deductions for 2028–2034 CAP
Under the European Commission’s current proposals for the upcoming funding period, Brussels introduces the Degressive Area-Based Income Support model. This system systematically reduces direct payments as a farm’s operational acreage or funding volume grows. Minister Abrovski argued in Brussels that applying a single, mechanized European threshold ignores national differences, creating unequal impacts between countries dominated by small family farms and nations featuring large agricultural enterprises.
National Discretion on Degressivity and Wage Deductions
Bulgaria insists that any degressive reduction and payment ceiling must operate on a voluntary basis, allowing national governments to set their own qualifying thresholds. The nation’s agricultural sector relies heavily on large-scale farming organizations that manage substantial land parcels, making the calculation methodology critical for regional financial stability.
Alongside flexible thresholds, Sofia maintains that the new regulations must permit farms to deduct labor expenses—specifically salaries and social security contributions—before degressivity is applied. Minister Abrovski noted that labor intensity differs widely among agricultural producers. Operations utilizing high mechanization and minimal staff maintain different financial profiles compared to labor-intensive enterprises, meaning total payment size should not serve as the sole metric for funding reductions.
Pro tip: Agricultural producers tracking the 2028–2034 CAP negotiations can monitor the ongoing debate in the Council, where nations like Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, Hungary, Slovakia, and Sweden have previously opposed mandatory degressivity and payment caps.
Special Status for Oil-Bearing Rose Production
Beyond direct payment architecture, Bulgaria formally requested a dedicated funding intervention for oil-bearing roses within the 2028–2034 CAP framework. Minister Abrovski pressed for the specialized agricultural support to protect the country’s centuries-old heritage in rose oil production.
The Ministry of Agriculture previously signaled intentions to secure a specific European designation for the crop. This push aligns with broader national priorities presented in Brussels, which include maintaining Transitional National Assistance past 2027 to protect domestic livestock breeders and tobacco growers. Sofia joined Romania, Greece, and Cyprus in demanding immediate European intervention and producer compensation to manage severe animal disease outbreaks, specifically plague and pox among small ruminants.
Bulgaria opposes mandatory degressivity thresholds for the new CAP
Why is Bulgaria opposing mandatory degressivity thresholds for the 2028–2034 CAP?
Bulgaria argues that a standardized European threshold would disproportionately harm nations where large agricultural enterprises manage significant tracts of land, preferring instead that individual member states establish their own qualifying limits.
What does Bulgaria propose regarding labor expenses under the new CAP?
The Ministry of Agriculture wants member states to have the voluntary option to deduct actual employee salaries and social security contributions from farm revenues before calculating degressive payment reductions.
What additional crop-specific funding is Sofia requesting?
Bulgaria is asking for a dedicated European funding intervention specifically for oil-bearing rose cultivation to safeguard traditional rose oil production and honor generational labor.
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