Bulgaria will not accept the proposed reduction in allocations for direct payments and rural regions development in the 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework, Minister of Agriculture and Food Miroslav Naydenov said at the second National Agro Seminar organised by the National Grain Producer Association (NGPA) in Plovdiv.

At a joint meeting in Brussels, EU agriculture ministers looked into two versions of the financial framework in the new programme period of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Naydenov said.

Under the two proposals, the allocated resources will be decreased by almost EUR 500 million and EUR 250 million annually, respectively. Naydenov was adamant Bulgaria will make no concession backing either option.

At a pan-European level, the consensus is far from near. Under the first option, put forward by French agriculture minister Stephane Le Foll, member states should openly admit their failure to reach a unanimous decision and allow a one-year transition period before the new CAP is introduced in 2015. For Bulgaria, this is the more favourable option as it would mean adhering to current financial legislation in 2012. Alternatively, a deadline will be set by which a unanimous decision has to be made.

Naydenov pledged to firmly defend Bulgaria’s stance although larger member states are poised to put pressure on the country and push for arriving at consensus.

The minister pointed out that Bulgaria ranks among the EU countries that boast the best financial discipline so far.