The seminar was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAIA) and the Agency for Intervention and Payments in Agriculture (AIPA). The event was organized by the project “Moldovan-German Agricultural Policy Dialogue” (APD Moldova), implemented within the Bilateral Cooperation Program funded by the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity.
According to the analysis conducted by the Moldovan-German project team, in the process of European integration Moldova should transpose EU legislation into national legislation, harmonize agricultural policy with the objectives and values of the Common Agricultural Policy and adopt a comprehensive set of standards in the field of food safety, animal and plant health and environmental protection for full participation in the single market.
APD Moldova Project Manager Hans Kordic explained to the representatives of the state agencies that the preparation for EU accession usually starts with the strengthening of institutional and administrative capacities, which allows for effective policy implementation and proper application of European food safety standards. This will enable Moldova to compete and actively participate in the EU single market.
In the next 2 years, the government’s priorities should focus on investing in MAIA and AIPA human resources, establishing an Office within the Ministry of Agriculture to develop future strategic plans for the Common Agricultural Policy, strengthening statistical capacity, facilitating knowledge transfer to farmers through the establishment of Chambers of Agriculture, and implementing the Farm Sustainability Data Network.
As noted by MAIA Secretary General Sergiu Gerciu, given that more than half of the EU legislation concerns areas coordinated by the agricultural authority and one third of the European budget is allocated to agriculture and rural development, it is clear that Moldova needs well-trained staff and efficient and transparent systems to manage the policy-making processes and the provision and monitoring of European funding.
