2023-08-23 11:57:11
Why does the Ministry of Health require declarations of representativeness from the branch organizations, when there are no rules written down in law, asks the BFS
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food is slow with the changes in The strategic plan for the development of agriculture and rural areas 2023-2027 in Bulgaria. This is the opinion of the Bulgarian Farmers’ Union. “It is already the end of August, and there are still no materials provided to the branch organizations for the amendments to the plan,” said Georgi Stoyanov, chairman of BFS. They must be considered and approved in early September in the Monitoring Committee. After that, the ministry should comply with the decision taken by the agricultural commission in the 49th National Assembly, that these amendments should be provided to the deputies by September 11. The deadline for submitting the draft amendments to the European Commission is September 30, 2023.
The BFS insists on a fairer distribution of direct payments in favor of production areas, eco-schemes, sectoral interventions, innovations aimed at supporting small and medium-sized farms, the production of Bulgarian fruits and vegetables, milk, meat and honey. The Ministry must also present a project for the restoration of irrigation systems, as well as a mechanism for providing irrigation water to agricultural producers at affordable prices.
The branch expects conclusions and recommendations on how far the initial priorities in the Strategic Plan, investments and focus direction continue to be relevant and in which aspects they will be changed.
“We participate in advisory councils to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and then no feedback is given to the branch organizations. Transcripts and information are not provided, thus we do not have the opportunity to analyze the various opinions and data,” said Georgi Stoyanov.
Instead, the Ministry of Health has begun to restrict organizations from participating in councils and meetings, even if they are not invited. It is a new and unpleasant practice to require declarations of representativeness without having a Law on branch organizations to regulate this activity. “As long as there are no legal requirements, the MOH is obliged to work with all organizations,” explained Stoyanov.
The Bulgarian Farmers’ Union will turn to the European Commission and to the largest European agricultural organization – COPA COGECA, in the deepening of the problems in the relations of the Ministry of Agriculture with the branch organizations, the BFS promises.
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