2024-03-13 11:20:01
New texts in the law, proposed by deputies, created problems and chaos, and everyone should have access to bidding
Farmers from the Bulgarian Association of Agricultural Land Owners are against the proposal to lease or rent state-owned fields and pastures only through an auction.
This is stated in an opinion of the branch organization, sent to the agricultural committee in the parliament. Her boss Desislava Taneva from GERB and her colleagues from PP-DB and DPS are the initiators of the change in the Law on Agricultural Lands. Besides the auction mechanism, they offer the advantage of having farmers who develop activity in sensitive sectors and organic agriculture. Among the amendments is that the minimum term of the contracts is 5 years.
However, the association points out that
the new texts do not have the support of the branch organizations,
rather, they benefit the 1.5% of large farmers who own 85% of the land. Therefore, the claims that there was a public discussion on the bill in question did not correspond to the objective reality and the legal requirements.
The association also says that the proposed amendments will create enormous difficulties and administrative chaos. In addition, there was a risk of conflict with the principle of freedom of establishment, which is written in the Treaty on the accession of Bulgaria to the EU, because a requirement for residence was introduced when participating in tenders for state lands.
Branch officials are also against limiting the scope of potential activities that can be carried out on the lands. The narrowing of the circle of farmers who can participate in the tender procedure was
an obstacle to achieving the most favorable economic conditions
The association suggests that the current order for state lands be preserved or that all farmers, not a limited circle, have access to the auctions. The leading criterion for the outcome of the secret bidding auction was to be the highest payment. In the case of equal proposals, priority should be given to the farmer who undertakes to carry out the relevant priority activity. If there are two with the same price, then an auction should be held with clear bidding between them.
Shortening the period for registering the contracts of use would create chaos, because the coming months were the most intensive for concluding contracts. This would also have negative consequences for the administration of agreements for agricultural land masses. Therefore, the association suggests that there be no change in the terms, or at least that it be postponed.
From the association of agricultural land owners see an overall problem in that
the proposed new mechanism will be unworkable and will create enormous difficulties
because of the too many circumstances and criteria on the basis of which to determine the right holders, especially in the case of animal breeders. For example, the advantage offered for organically certified animals and pastures, provided that it is a matter of pasture farming, was incomprehensible. It was itself an organic practice, regardless of whether a certificate was issued.
If, however, the rules are changed now to respect the principles of legal certainty and protection, the association wants their entry into force to be delayed until January 1, 2026. This will give farmers the opportunity to adapt to the new conditions.
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