Bulgaria will push for a separate payment for oil-bearing roses under the EU's new farm policy after 2027, the agriculture ministry says. The country wants a new article added to the rules, creating a "special payment for the oil-bearing rose" paid out of the policy's budget.
Agriculture minister Plamen Abrovski set out Bulgaria's position at a meeting of EU farm ministers in Brussels. He handed out small bottles of Bulgarian rose oil to those in the room.
"Behind the scent of Bulgarian rose oil lies a centuries-old tradition, a unique Bulgarian product and the work of generations of rose growers," Abrovski told the meeting. He said Bulgaria's rose is one of a kind — and that makes the EU one of a kind too.
"Given the growing economic, geopolitical and climate challenges, we still believe the CAP must stay a strong policy with solid funding," the minister said.
Bulgaria also backs a paper from Romania calling for transitional national aid to continue. Cyprus, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia support the same paper.
On cuts to area payments as farm size grows, Bulgaria wants any reductions and the payment cap to be optional, letting each EU country set its own thresholds based on how big its farms are. Abrovski also asked for countries to keep the right to deduct wage and social security costs linked to farm work — optional, decided by each country, just as now.
Abrovski said the next farm policy must fund irrigation and big water projects, including shared and regional systems. He called for more flexible rules so that emergency help can go out fast when bad weather or other shocks hit.
He also asked for guaranteed funding for the farm knowledge and innovation system, known as AKIS, so advisory services, innovation networks and work on new solutions aren't interrupted. Among Bulgaria's key demands, he pointed to a proper transition period and clear rules to stop direct payments being cut off after 2027.
Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and Cyprus will also push for changes to EU rules on diseases affecting small ruminants. The four countries want the EU to pay compensation for losses caused by restrictions imposed to stamp out these diseases. Abrovski spoke about this earlier the same day to Bulgarian journalists in Brussels.