The Ministry of Agriculture regulates the conditions for the implementation of interventions in the winegrowing and winemaking sector

The rules for the implementation of the interventions in the wine and viticulture sector included in the Strategic Plan for the Development of Agriculture and Rural Areas for the period 2023 – 2027 have been adopted. This is done by the new Ordinance No. 14 of 11 September 2023, which regulates the conditions and procedures for granting financial aid under the interventions for the sector. The document was promulgated in the State Gazette on 19 September, and its implementation will start on 15 October 2023.

The interventions that Bulgaria will implement during the new programming period are seven and provide support for restructuring and conversion of vineyards, for investments in the wine and viticulture sector, for green harvesting, for crop insurance, for information in the Member States, for promotion in third countries and for investments in environmental facilities.

The first application period will be held from 16 October to 15 November 2023 under the intervention „Restructuring and conversion of vineyards“. The budget set in the ordinance for this application period amounts to BGN 21,322,171.03. Farmers registered under Ordinance No. 3 of 1999, who are natural or legal persons, including groups and producer organisations of wine grapes recognised by the Minister of Agriculture and Food, entered in the vineyard register as grape producers with registered vineyard holdings under the Wine and Spirit Drinks Act, may apply for financial aid. Applications shall be submitted through the Electronic Services System of the State Fund „Agriculture“. Support under the intervention amounts to up to 75% of the eligible costs for restructuring and conversion of vineyards.

Under the interventions „Information in the Member States“ and „Promotion in third countries“, the first application period for the new programming period will be held from 1 to 15 December 2023, and under „Investments in the wine and viticulture sector“ and „Investments in environmental facilities“ – in the period 15 January – 15 February 2024. For crop insurance, grape producers will be able to submit applications from 15 May to 15 June 2024. The intervention „Green harvesting“ is a crisis measure and applications under it will be accepted only in the years for which a market imbalance in wine grapes has been established.