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Osmani: the degree of utilization of IPARD funds is astounding and we will change this with the new IPA Master Plan
8/23/2017 11:56
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Today Deputy Prime Minister in
charge of European Affairs together with the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry
and Water Management Ljupco Nikolovski visited a successful project implemented
with IPA funds, component 5 IPARD 2007-2013, project for modernisation and
equipping of the Phytosanitary Laboratory , at the Institute of Agriculture.
"The funds from IPARD
2007-2013 for rural development and promotion of agriculture, as one of the IPA
components, have the lowest level of fund utilszation. Out of a total of 67.7
million euros, only 18.1 million euros were contracted, and even less was paid,
11.1 million euros. Thus, the degree of utilisation of these funds is only 27%
which is astounding," said Osmani during the visit.
He added that despite the
striking results, the Phytosanitary Laboratory, which he visited today with the
Minister of Agriculture Nikolovski, is successfully implemented a project, in
which the benefits of the successful utilisation of IPA funds is clearly
recognisable. "About two million euros, money from the EU Member States
taxpayers, has been spent on equipment, training, modernisation of procedures,
increasing efficiency, etc. Thus, this laboratory has not only become the best
in the country, it is also one of the leaders in the region," Osmani
noted.
Deputy Prime Minister Osmani
said that right because of these benefits, he, as National IPA Coordinator in
charge of coordination and oversight of IPA funds, together with the Minister
Nikolovski, in charge of implementation of the projects financed by IPARD in
the forthcoming period, will commit to changing of these conditions. The
challenges identified in the implementation of the IPA funds in IPARD are
already part of the report of the situation with the IPA funds, and they will
be addressed in the new Master Plan for reform of the IPA Structure.
"In
the new IPA Master Plan we will anticipate measures and activities to overcome
the challenges and to improve the IPA absorption capacity of the state, and we
will remove the obstacles for their efficient implementation ", stated
Osmani at the very end, adding that the successful absorption of the IPA funds
becomes a top priority not only to the Secretariat for European Affairs, but to
the Government.
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