Bulgaria - tobacco growers seeking more subsidies..

Protest over unpaid tobacco subsidies..
December 3, 2010 - Thousands of tobacco-growers gathered in front of the building of the Bulgarian Parliament to request more state subsidies as the legislative body debates on second reading the state budget for 2011. Minister of Agriculture Miroslav Naydenov came out to answer to protesters' demands, saying he worked hard to ensure a BGN 140 M of state aid for the sector. He added that should budget 2011 outperform, tobacco-producers will receive an additional BGN 70 M mid-year 2011.

In Parliament, the Movement of Rights and Freedoms (MRF) as usual has spoken out strongly in support of tobacco-producers, many of whom are of a Turkish ethnic origin.

News briefs related to tobacco subsidy:
Bulgaria - subsidy for tobacco growers included in govt budget for 2010..;
Bulgaria - tobacco growers again mass protests over unpaid subsidies..;
Bulgaria - govt no more tobacco growers protests over subsides..;
Bulgaria - prime minister not happy with giving tobacco growers subsidies..;
Bulgaria - finance minister comments may be good news for tobacco farmers..;
Bulgaria - European Commission authorizes payment to tobacco producers for 2009 crop..;
Bulgaria - tobacco producers propose Bulgartabac transfer..;
Bulgaria - government, tobacco growers reach subsidy agreement...

Reference: Bulgaria's Tobacco-Growers Strike as Parliament Debates Budget, Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency), 12/2/2010.