TIRANA, July 18 /ATA/ – The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Anila Denaj rejected Thursday the claims over alleged corruption practices and misuse of European Union’s IPARD programme funds earmarked for Albanian farmers.
Addressing today’s parliament interpellation session, the Agriculture Minister turned down the accusations as political rhetoric, stating that more than 540 important investment projects have been implemented through the IPARD grants and funding, creating more than 1000 jobs for Albanian households.
She said that Albanian agriculture has ushered in a new and irreversible improvement and development dynamic, with the EU’s IPARD Programme providing a major contribution to Albania’s agriculture and rural development.
According to her, “this contribution cannot be undone by any attempt to use it politically.”
“IPARD II Programme was launched in 2018 following an important accreditation and training process to build domestic institutional capacities. IPARD programme accounts for around 75% of the funds earmarked for agriculture, whereas Albanian government funding accounts for 25%,” Denaj said.
Agriculture Minister underlined that the Programme has contributed to growth of agricultural and farming establishments, improvement of food safety and increase of Albania’s agricultural exports to international markets.
Denaj informed that 540 important investment projects have been implemented in various agriculture and rural sectors through the IPARD Programme assistance, creating more than 1000 new jobs.
The Minister of Agriculture confirmed her commitment to transparency, accountability and the full implementation of every step in the action plan, already undergoing the process of formal approval by the relevant EU bodies.
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