July 31, 2008

Bulgarian farmers protest over delayed EU subsidies
 

Several hundred Bulgarian farmers blocked roads across the country Wednesday to protest delayed state subsidy payments and the recent freezing of European Union agricultural aid, local media reported.

National radio said cattle breeders from the northwest of the country had barred a main road to the Danube port of Oryahovo.

They were protesting delays in the payment of milk subsidies and compensation for poor crops of fodder following last year's drought, it was reported.

Police arrested four milk producers who tried to slaughter three calves on the road to show what would happen to their herds if payments did not resume soon, said the report.

In the south of the country, farmers staged peaceful sit-ins against the recent freezing of European agricultural aid, state BTA agency reported.

"We live on credit, that's why we're out here," BTA quoted them as saying.

Many said they risked going bankrupt after the European Commission confirmed last week it was freezing more EUR100 million in agricultural aid.

The EU's executive arm has cut off EUR800 million in subsidies towards farming, road building and regional development because of dissatisfaction at the levels of corruption in Bulgaria.