December 28, 2007

Bulgarian dairy farmers demand higher EU quotas, subsidies

Bulgarian milk producers rallied in central Sofia on Thursday (December 27), demanding high state subsidies and EU production quotas.

The milk producers' association said farmers needed higher subsidies as they were paying more for cattle feed than what they get for their milk.

Protesters also urged the government for higher production quotas from the European Union, which Bulgaria joined in January. The group said the current quota would require 200,000 of the country's 350,000 cows to be slaughtered.

Agriculture Minister Nihat Kabil said milk producers' demands were "excessive" and would cost leva 300 million (euro150 million; US$218 million).

Kabil said the ministry's priority next year will be complete restructuring of the animal breeding sector in Bulgaria.

Last week, the European Commission announced that Bulgaria would receive euro2.6 billion (US$3.8 billion) until 2013 in EU rural development funds.

Milk producers warned that if the government fails to comply with their requests until January 5, they will start blocking major roads.