site.btaEuropean Experts Assess Rural Development Programme Progress

Experts of the Directorate General Agriculture and Rural Development with the European Commission are visiting Bulgaria in order to assess progress under the Rural Development Programme (2014-2020) and make sure that the risk of failing to meet its targets is minimized. 

"The implementation of the measures under the programme is progressing at a good pace at the Agriculture Ministry and the State Fund Agriculture," assured Deputy Agriculture Minister Georgi Sabev during the meeting.

He said that the delay in the processing of project proposals under key measures has been compensated, which unfortunately was aggravated by the political instability in the country. "We are working on important tools such as for investment and those, linked with the Local Initiative Groups," said the Deputy Prime Minister.

Among the highlights of the meeting was the development of organic production in the country and the implementation of Measure 11 for Bio agriculture under the Rural Development Programme. The EC experts received the draft of the National Plan for Organic Agriculture in Bulgarian by 2030.  It lays out measures, encouraging new organic areas and raising the visibility of bio products in Bulgaria, taking into consideration of the accumulated experience from the implementation of the measure in 2014-2020. 

Participants in the meeting were familiarized with the plan, drawn up by the Agriculture Ministry and the State Fund Agriculture for reducing the risk of reduction of funding. 

During their visit, the EC experts visited a plant for the processing of organic roses and herbs in the village of Turia, Stara Zagora Region.