TIRANA, July 20 /ATA/ Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Frida Krifca, speaking from the floor of the Assembly, stated that, “IPARD program is operating, meanwhile we are closely cooperating with the EU to improve standards.”
Krifca refuted the media speculation swirling around that EU funds have been cut off, stressing that it is not a question of investigations into corruption by ARDA.
“The only news here was the announcement about the suspension of the next payment, as a temporary measure by the DG Agri in Brussels. The word corruption is not mentioned in that letter. In this view, I cannot comment nor can I predict anything from these circumstances,” said Krifca.
The minister emphasized that the law was never breached.
“I can assure you that the fund management system and the procedure followed by the Agency are exactly what are accredited by the EU. If these externally verified procedures are violated or, due to various developments, they need to be enhanced, we are interested in cooperating with OLAF, to cooperate immediately and to correct the activity of the institution. The program has not been interrupted, it is in operation,” Krifca said.
According to her, every word used by the opposition on this issue was intended to tear apart everything good built with effort and passion by people who are keen to see this country prosper.
Addressing the public, the rural community, the minister said that, “yesterday there was no news – the news that ARDA is under administrative investigation by the European Union Structure for the Prevention of Fraud – OLAF was reported in the media since February 2021, when we were under control. The only news was the announcement of the suspension of the next payment, as a temporary and intermediate preventive measure that the General Directorate of Agriculture of the Commission has taken, with the aim of clarifying the circumstances related to the control system and preventing fraud from internal and external factors.”
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