Agricultural policy developments in the EU pre-accession countries :Final report

This study is a part of a project “Comparative analysis of agricultural sectors and rural areas in the pre-accession countries: Agricultural policy developments, situation of the agri-food sector and economic context” funded by Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission. It is part of a series of assessments, aiming to monitor the development of the agri-food sector in the Western Balkan countries/territories (WB) and Türkiye. The study focuses on the changes in the years 2020 and 2021 and the developments of currently important topics, such as Covid-19, greening, and the approximation of agriculture and rural development policies to the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The WB countries/territories and Türkiye are taking steady steps towards EU accession, by narrowing down the gaps with EU member states in the development of their agricultural sectors and rural areas. Competitiveness, environmental protection and development of rural areas are key policy objectives across the countries/territories. All countries/territories have established operational institutional structures, that need to be continuously upgraded. The IPARD (Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance rural development programmes) beneficiary countries have adopted the third IPARD programme for the period 2021-2027. The budget spent for agriculture and rural development varies in the pre-accession countries/territories. The crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the crisis linked to the war in Ukraine have re-emphasized the importance and need for an adequate agricultural policy, supporting stable food systems. The publication ends with a set of recommendations for improvement of the policy and sector development.