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European Union (EU) Integration and Policy Support in Agriculture and Rural Development - TCP/ALB/3802

Year of publication 2025

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 12

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Project

Synopsis (short abstract) Albania was granted European Union (EU) candidate status in June 2014. As part of the European Council’s conclusions of June 2019, the country was expected to conduct several development processes to enhance the agricultural sector to align national policies to modern EU standards, laying the groundwork for the full implementation of the European instrument for pre accession assistance for rural development (IPARD). However, the agricultural system in Albania is mainly formed by small and family farms that operate with a low level of mechanization, and there is a lack of policy analysis, data collection systems, such as farm accountancy data networks (FADN) and reporting mechanisms, which are required to evaluate progress towards the achievement of the SDGs. To address these challenges and continue preparing the EU-membership candidature, this project was designed to i) assist in completing the legal framework for organic products, wine by-laws, quality policy and seed and seedling by-laws, ii) advice on how to improve agricultural registries (for wine, for instance), develop an FADN action plan and adopt an EU-aligned FADN system in Albania, and iii) increase institutional capacities to provide an appropriate response while implementing EU funds for rural development (IPARD funds).

Language English

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