The European Commission is proposing EU-wide methods to measure the environmental performance of products and organisations, and encouraging Member States and the private sector to take them up. Today, companies wanting to highlight the environmental performance of their products face numerous obstacles. They have to choose between several methods promoted by governments and private...
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With the forecast for expenditure on CAP Direct Payments & Market measures for 2014 higher than the provisional ceiling for 2014 agreed by EU heads of government, the European Commission has tabled a proposal for "Financial Discipline" to ensure that spending remains within budget limits. The concept, established in 2003 but never triggered until now, requires the Commission to make a proposal...
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State Fund Agriculture (SFA) paid out approximately 72 million BGN in Complementary National Direct Payments for Tobacco. More than 40 000 tobacco producers received the money. The aid is paid out per kilogram of tobacco grown and sold in the years 2007-2009. Producers can check the amount they have received on the SFA website. In the following weeks, SFA will process 436 applications under...
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Agriculture ministers meeting in Brussels on Tuesday (19 March) forged an incomplete compromise farm policy ahead of key negotiations on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), with Slovakia and Slovenia refusing to sign off on the deal. The most divisive issues in the 2014-2020 CAP have been the force of environmental measures, establishing a uniform per-acre payment for farmers,...
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Every year, each European citizen generates over 500 kilos of municipal waste, more than one third of which goes directly to landfill. Whereas some Member States manage to put those resources to productive use, recycling or composting around 60% of their municipal waste, others struggle to manage it. Today Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik is participating in a high level seminar in...
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A total of €414 million of EU agricultural policy funds unduly spent by Member States is being claimed back by the European Commission today under the so-called clearance of accounts procedure. Member States are responsible for paying out and checking expenditure under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and the Commission is required to ensure that Member States have made correct use...
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The European Commission is bringing together experts to advise a new partnership in agriculture research and innovation. The European Innovation Partnership (EIP) "Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability" was set up to help meet the challenges of food security, sustainable resource management and environment preservation. The EIP aims to ensure faster transfer of innovative research...
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The causes of death are numerous, but beekeepers expect realizable measures During the regular meeting of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural development, was presented a study on neonicotinoid insecticides, prepared by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Bulgarian MEP Mariya Gabriel (EPP / GERB) actively participated in the debate on the subject with the members of...
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The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation into a number of public support measures granted by Estonia in favour of its flag carrier airline Estonian Air. At this stage, the Commission has doubts whether these measures are in line with EU state aid rules. The opening of an in-depth investigation gives interested third parties an opportunity to comment on the measures under...
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Nestlé has removed beef pasta meals sold under its Buitoni brand from sale in Italy and Spain after finding traces of horsemeat, becoming the latest company embroiled in a food scandal spreading across Europe. The world's biggest food company, which last week said its products had not been affected by the scandal, stressed its decision to withdraw the products came after tests over...
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A new ordinance on enforcing the rules about organic farming and control over production and labeling of organic products was promulgated in the Official Gazette. The ordinance revokes Ordinance 22 dated July 4, 2001 for the organic production of plants, plant products and foods of plant origin and its marking on them, and Ordinance 35 dated August 30, 2001 on the organic farming of animals...
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107 projects will be financed with a total subsidy of BGN 26 661 252 under Measure 121 Modernization of Agricultural Holdings of the Rural Development Programme. The projects involve the purchase of equipment for the production of apricots, cherries, plums, peaches, apples and potatoes. A further nine vine growing projects will be supported. A beneficiary of Rodopi municipality will invest...
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A total of BGN 841 592 302 on 83,823 applications has been paid based on the area per the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) approved by the Minister of Agriculture and Food with Order RD 09-4 as of 03.01.2013. Complaints against the determined admissible areas were accepted by February 14. After reviewing the complaints, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food will present with State...
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Conservationists angered by efforts to “gut” Europe’s future farm policy are banking on the full European Parliament to protect the environmental standards proposed by the European Commission. With the full Parliament due to vote on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) the night of 12 March, environmental campaigners hope for a change of course after the Parliament’s...
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Bulgaria is one of the EU countries with the highest percentage of preserved Natura 2000 areas, but this rich heritage should be nurtured and be used to the benefit of both people and nature, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Svetlana Boyanova told a roundtable in Nürnberg, Germany. The discussion, entitled Organic Agriculture - Horizons 2020, was attended by European...
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