Results from the meeting of the thematic working group for development of the Bulgarian CAP strategic plan in period 2021 - 2027

The last meeting of the thematic working group (TWG) for the development of the Strategic Plan for Agriculture and Rural Development in the period 2021 - 2027 took place on February 22. The main issues discussed were related to coupled production, the intervention strategy and financial plan. STEP experts have prepared an opinion on the draft intervention logic and financial plan, which can be found in detail here (in BG). The comments were presented as part of the general opinion of environmental organizations (in BG).

The main remarks of the representatives of the environmental organizations are related to the lack of key elements for the plan, among which the most important are:

- Lack of valued result indicators to show how and with how much the proposed interventions will contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the CAP and the Green Deal.

- Almost complete lack of performance indicators for biodiversity and Natura 2000.

- Lack of a comprehensive, logically linked draft of the strategic plan with an analysis of the needs, the set quantitative goals and priorities and the proposed logic for achieving them with the interventions and the budgets provided for them.

- Incomplete compliance with the National Prioritised Action Framework for Natura 2000 (NPAF) and lack of justification for some of the interventions related to NPAF. For example, organic production is mentioned as an intervention that contributes to the conservation of biodiversity, but it is not clear exactly which activities included in the scope of organic production will contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and how.

- Lack of sufficient funds for biodiversity.

- Lack of a mechanism for monitoring and controlling the effect of the implementation of interventions on biodiversity. This, combined with the lack of result indicators, makes it impossible to realistically assess the appropriateness of the interventions set out in the new plan.

The strategic plan will be submitted for comments to the European Commission, as well as for public discussion, and Bulgarian environmental NGOs will continue to insist on revising the plan in accordance with the objectives and vision of the Common Agricultural Policy to be fairer and greener.