Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA): the Rural Development Component IPARD

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1 Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA): the Rural Development Component IPARD Elitsa Yanakieva European Commission, DG AGRI, Unit for Pre-accession assistance 5th meeting of EU-the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee Brussels, 18 October 2011

2 Instrument for pre-accession assistance (IPA) Main instrument for pre-accession assistance for the period , has five components: - I: Institution building - II: Cross-border cooperation - III: Regional development - IV: Human resources development - V: Rural development (IPARD) IPARD allocation for FYR of Macedonia : 87.5 million Euro

3 Main objectives: Rural development component (IPARD) Support the sustainable adaptation of the agricultural sector and rural areas to the EU s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Prepare for the implementation and management of the CAP upon accession

4 IPARD Works on the basis of IPARD Programmes, drawn-up and implemented at national level (the European Commission approves the Programme and gives the right to a national IPARD Agency to manage IPARD funds ( decentralised management without ex-ante controls ) Programmes are structured around 3 priority axes containing 9 measures

5 IPARD priority axes and measures Axis 1 Improving market efficiency and implementation of Community standards Measures: Investments in agricultural holdings to restructure and to upgrade to Community standards (accredited in FYR of Macedonia) Support for the setting-up of producer groups Investments in the processing and marketing of agriculture and fishery products to restructure them and upgrade them to Community standards (accredited in FYR of Macedonia)

6 IPARD priority axes and measures Axis 2 Preparatory actions for implementation of agri-environmental measures and local rural development strategies Measures: Actions to improve the environment and the countryside Preparation and implementation of local rural development strategies

7 IPARD priority axes and measures Axis 3 Development of the rural economy Measures: Improvement and development of rural infrastructure Diversification and development of rural economic activities (accredited in FYR of Macedonia) Improvement of training Technical assistance preparation, monitoring, evaluation, information and control activities for the implementation of the programme

8 IPARD in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: Achievements up to now (1) A strategic multi-annual programme for the agricultural sector was drafted by the national authorities in Programme implementation is supervised both by EC and by the local stakeholders through the established IPARD Monitoring Committee IPARD Agency (AFSARD) was granted rights to manage IPARD funds in December 2009.

9 IPARD in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: Achievements up to now (2) 4 calls for applications organised so far, resulting in 365 applications for IPARD aid 102 projects amounting to 4.6 million Euro EU contributions have been contracted Quality of the projects increasing (less applications are rejected)

10 IPARD in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: Problems encountered Slow implementation due to insufficient administrative capacity (lack of staff and coordination between the administrative bodies): problems with building permits, issuing of certificates, etc. Difficult access to rural credits, preventing farmers to apply for IPARD Lack of trained advisory services to support farmers in the application process.

11 IPARD - the best approach? SAPARD/IPARD have helped to create modern public management structures, based on the principles of good governance: openness (transparency); participation (partnership) and accountability. Most SAPARD countries have set up efficient structures now used as paying agencies and managing authorities for agriculture and rural development funds post-accession. Croatia will now do the same with the IPARD structures. Positive impact with respect to job creation and maintenance (average: 1.4 jobs per project)

12 IPARD - the best approach? Farm and agri-food investment measures were successful in helping beneficiaries to meet EU standards and to prepare them for the competition in the European market Positive impact at local level for rural infrastructure in particular through road construction and establishment/extension of water and sewage systems Beneficiaries have gained solid knowledge about the application process for and implementation of EU co-financed projects.

13 Thank you for your attention! More information at: DG AGRI/IPARD: DG Enlargement/IPA Rural Development: