The Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Affairs, Bojan Marichic, together with the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy held a coordinative online meeting with the Sectoral Working Group for IPA Programming pertaining to the field of agriculture and rural development.

At the meeting, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, Ljupco Nikolovski said that the implementation of IPA II is a huge success story, which indicates to the successfully realised projects. Moreover, he stated that programming of IPA III activities is focused on its efficiency and flexibility.

-We are already working on improving the implementation of existing legislation, and instigating the necessary investments which is important for the improvement of sustainability of agricultural production. We have had significant progress in terms of harmonisation with EU requirements, and the necessary strategic and legal framework has been adopted. The National Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development 2021-2027 and the National Programme for 2018-2022 reflect very clearly and concisely the commitment by the Ministry to achieve significant progress in agriculture and rural development, and applying the elements of the applicable EU agricultural policy, said Nikolovski.

At the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister Marichic talked about new initiatives and programmes that are available, focusing on the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, widely known as EUSAIR, as well as the latest transnational Interreg Euro-Med and Interreg ADRION programmes.

By adding macro-regional and territorial partnerships to the focus of the Sectoral Working Group will certainly contribute towards the general efforts to elevate the activities of the coordination mechanisms to a higher level.

Broadening the discussions on the emphasis of territorial cooperation programmes or that which will be additionally offered through these programmes in our country will diversify the interaction between different planning levels and subsequently result in further harmonisation and synergy with EU policies in this area, concluded Marichic.