Bulgarian farmers joined European colleagues on Tuesday in protest against Ukraine imports, uncertain conditions and alleged excessive EU environmental standards.
“We’re living a nightmare. We’re on the edge,” said 42-year-old cereal producer, Ventsislav Mitkov, from Breznik in western Bulgaria. He predicted many farmers could face bankruptcy within six months unless they receive due subsidies and compensation against unfair Ukrainian competition.
Although similar protests in France and Romania have waned, demonstrations still persist across certain EU countries, including the Netherlands, Spain, Latvia, and Italy. Key issues vary depending on the region.
Waving Bulgarian flags and sounding their horns, hundreds of tractors disrupted traffic across the Balkan country, with protesters threatening to escalate their actions in the coming days. Prime Minster Nikolay Denkov pledged urgent aid “for those truly in need” and promised to talk with Brussels.
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In response, the European Commission on Tuesday shelved a legislative project aimed at reducing pesticide use, representing another concession to the farmers.
Anger is also rising against the duty-free concession made in 2022 to Ukrainian agricultural products. As cheap cereals flood Bulgarian soil, the sector has long criticised this altered competition dynamic, with previous protests taking place in spring 2023.
“They’re driving down prices by facilitating imports from non-EU countries and at the same time imposing restrictions that hamper our competitiveness,” complained 35-year-old Miloslav Mihaylov, vehemently opposed to the European regulations.
