Landbouwcommissaris Fischler acht Bulgarije klaar voor toetreding tot EU (en)
Speaking on the occasion of an official visit to Bulgaria today, Franz Fischler, EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries said that Bulgaria's accession to the EU was within reach. "The clear objective of the European Commission and the Member States is to welcome Bulgaria as a member of the EU in 2007. The EU will aim at concluding the accession negotiations in 2004. The Accession Treaty could be signed as soon as possible in 2005. But whether this ambitious timetable can be met will be up to Bulgaria and the progress it makes. Having already dealt with many difficult chapters in the accession negotiations, Bulgaria is well on track to end negotiations in 2004", he underlined.
The EU 15 is a very important partner for Bulgaria. Bulgaria has a huge farm trade surplus with the EU (€ 200 million in 2002). The Commission is currently discussing with Bulgaria how to take bilateral farm trade liberalisation a further step forward, in such a way that it will continue to work in favour of Bulgaria's exporters.
Commissioner Fischler cited the following five advantages of the EU for Bulgarian farmers:
Reinforced rural development will provide Bulgaria's farm sector with a targeted, tailor-made impetus. Bulgaria will thereby receive comparatively more funding than the "old" Member States.
The second advantage is particularly important to Bulgaria as a traditional exporting country. Joining the EU will give Bulgaria's farmers and agro-industry access to one of the world's largest food markets, comprising almost half a billion consumers with strong purchasing power.
The introduction of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will stabilise producer prices, because EU market measures - such as public intervention at times of crisis will be available.
The gradual increase in direct payments will also help to ensure a stable income for Bulgarian farmers in times of restructuring and modernisation.
Independent studies show that farmers' incomes will rise considerably following accession.
Some weeks ago, the Commission proposed to the EU Member States a financial package for Bulgaria and Romania for 2007 to 2009. With regard to agriculture, Bulgaria would be allocated a total amount of € 1.436 billion. "The envelope proposed for Bulgaria is more than fair. It offers equal treatment vis-à-vis the ten states which join the EU this year. On the allocation of rural development funds, the country's absorption capacity is of utmost importance. The proposed funds for rural development represent € 617 million, or 1.4% of Bulgaria's GDP. This rate is higher than that of any of the ten acceding states", Mr. Fischler stressed.
As the first country to get accreditation for the agricultural pre-accession instrument SAPARD, Bulgaria has been the pacemaker for the other candidate countries. Payments to Bulgaria under SAPARD amounted to € 58.6 million by the end of 2003. Up to that point, 61% of the available EU money for 2000 2003 had been committed for 946 projects. "This development is good news. In future, more money will be available. The EU envisages an increase of 20% in EU assistance in 2004, plus a further 10% in 2005 and another 10% in 2006. This means that the SAPARD money for Bulgaria will increase from € 56 million for 2003 to € 80 million in 2006. This money is well invested to help prepare for enlargement by improving and modernising production, processing and marketing structures and by developing environmentally friendly agricultural practices such as organic farming," the Commissioner concluded.
More information on the Common Agricultural Policy, the reforms and enlargement at: