TIRANA, Nov 10 /ATA/ The Minister of Finance, Petrit Malaj, stated today that the IPARD III program is expected to open during 2026, after implementing the measures required by the European Commission.
During the presentation of the 2026 draft budget to the Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Rural Development, Malaj emphasized that the IPARD programs have been successful in previous phases, despite some irregularities identified in the second phase.
“IPARD represents a successful program that has contributed significantly to the development of Albanian agriculture. Following the identification of certain irregularities during the second phase, the European Commission, through DG AGRI, requested the implementation of specific measures by the Albanian government. These measures are currently in the process of being implemented, and I remain highly optimistic that IPARD III will be launched in 2026,” declared Minister Malaj.
The Minister also emphasized that, despite delays in IPARD funding, the Albanian government has established alternative mechanisms to support farmers and agricultural enterprises.
“A sovereign guarantee of €30 million has been allocated for the agricultural sector, enabling farmers and small businesses to access state-guaranteed loans covering up to 70% of their value, with an interest rate of only 2%. In parallel, a €250 million credit line with preferential interest rates has been made available by the Bank of Albania to promote the development of the agri-processing sector, which will be one of the government’s priorities in the coming years,” stated Malaj.
“The objective,” he added, “is to enhance the value of Albanian agricultural products and to support the entire chain of production and processing.”
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