Shkodra Policy forum on Europeanization of the agriculture and rural development in Albania

On 8th September 2010, EMA in the framework of the project “Europeanization of the agriculture and rural development in Albania” supported by European Fund for Balkans (EFB), organized the first policy forum in Shkodra. The event brought together distinguished representatives from local authorities, experts of rural and agricultural development and farmers. During the policy forum, the key findings of a study prepared by the EMA’s research team were presented.

The study despite addressing the main problems of rural and agricultural development provides a set of concrete recommendation to help the actors engaged in these areas.

 The policy forum was opened by Mr. Gledis Gjipali, Executive Director of EMA with a few welcoming remarks. He accentuated that as potential EU candidate country, Albania must pay a special attention in meeting the EU legislative, institutional and political standards related with the rural and agriculture development highlighted in Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) and other strategic documents. In this regards, the project, through analyzing the current situation under the light of the EU legislation and the opportunities to profit form the EU aids, aimed to increase the information and awareness of local and central actors concerning their future engagements.

Prof. Assoc. Dr. Zydi Teqja, during his presentation entitled “Current characteristic of the agriculture development; Achievements and problems” pointed out the importance of the agriculture as a pre condition for a sustainable development of the country. Beyond sketching out the rural profile of Albanian economy based on statistics related with the size that agriculture occupies in the GDP and the composition of Albanian society, Mr. Teqja, touched upon some of the most important problems that agriculture is facing.

 “The challenges’ implantation of the Rural Development Strategy” in order to support farmers was the subject of Mr. Geron Kamberi presentation, expert of rural development. After explaining the fundamental pillar of the Rural Development Strategy 2007 – 2013, Mr. Kamberi was focused on the institutional requirements needed in order to consider the implementation of Rural Development Strategy as a successful story.

Mr. Florian Xhafa, expert of rural development was focused on the Instrument of Pre Accession (IPA), emphasizing its fifth component Rural Development (IPARD) in particular. He presented in a practice way the tools and options how to profit from the EU pre accession funds. Concrete examples and state of play on this area was presented in an interactive way with the involvement of participants.

In the end, the policy forums was followed up by on opened discussion where representatives from local authorities (Agriculture Department at Shkodra Region Council), interest groups (Albanian Agribusiness Council of the region, head of Communes of the region, university’s lecturers) and experts discussed on the main problems of Albanian rural and agriculture development.