Food and agriculture in Bulgaria: the challenge of preparing for EU accession, Volumes 23-481

Agriculture traditionally played a significant role in the Bulgarian economy. Before the present decade, Bulgaria was a major exporter of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables within Eastern and Central Europe. While the Bulgarian government has progressed rapidly since 1997, the delay in reforms has rendered Bulgarian food products as noncompetitive on the international market. Also, many important components of the transition are not completed. This report reviews the recent history and current state of Bulgarian agriculture and agroindustry. It examines the status of the sectoral reforms program, including reforms affecting pricing and trade, rural finance, land markets, and agroindustry, with emphasis on evaluating its progress toward meeting the criteria for EU accession. It highlights the tremendous advances made recently, and also suggests an agenda for prioritizing the remaining obstacles. This report is intended for agricultural scientists, public officials, politicians, agricultural and agroindustrial leaders, economic researchers and others interested in the transformation of agriculture in the transition economies and in issues pertaining to accession of Central and East European candidate countries to the European Union. Annotation Agriculture traditionally played a significant role in the Bulgarian economy. Before the present decade, Bulgaria was a major exporter of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables within Eastern and Central Europe. While the Bulgarian government has progressed rapidly since 1997, the delay in reforms has rendered Bulgarian food products as noncompetitive on the international market. Also, many important components of the transition are not completed. This report reviews the recent history and current state of Bulgarian agriculture and agroindustry. It examines the status of the sectoral reforms program, including reforms affecting pricing and trade, rural finance, land markets, and agroindustry, with emphasis on evaluating its progress toward meeting the criteria for EU accession. It highlights the tremendous advances made recently, and also suggests an agenda for prioritizing the remaining obstacles. This report is intended for agricultural scientists, public officials, politicians, agricultural and agroindustrial leaders, economic researchers and others interested in the transformation of agriculture in the transition economies and in issues pertaining to accession of Central and East European candidate countries to the European Union This report reviews the recent history and current state of Bulgarian agriculture and agro-industry. It examines the status of the sectoral reforms program, including reforms affecting pricing and trade, rural finance, land markets, and agro-industry, with emphasis on evaluating its progress toward meeting the criteria for European Union (EU) accession. It highlights the tremendous advances made recently, and also suggests an agenda for prioritizing and tackling the remaining obstacles. It analyzes several strategies for adoption of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, and recommends that in the near future Bulgaria focus on putting in place the institutions of the Common Agricultural Policy, while deferring any attempts to mimic the support policies, which are in any case a moving target. And importantly, it recommends that Bulgaria focus on measures aimed at meeting the basic criteria for accession - a functioning and competitive market economy - which will require continued progress in the structural reform program, and on making sure that the Special Assistance Programme Agriculture and Rural Development investments enhance market orientation of the economy, rather than picking winners