TIRANA, July 16 /ATA/ Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Andis Salla on Thursday presented to parliament a draft law on the ratification of the 2025 Technical Cooperation Agreement with Germany.
Presenting the draft law, Salla said the agreement provides the legal basis for implementing the EU4Food Safety project.
“This is not simply a cooperation project; it is a strategic instrument that supports one of our most important priorities: building a modern food safety system and accelerating Albania’s European integration process,” the minister said.
According to the minister, “The EU today expects more than the adoption of legislation. It expects functioning institutions, robust inspection systems, reliable laboratories and a public administration capable of enforcing European standards in practice.”
“This is precisely what the project aims to achieve. Its objective is to support Albania in building a modern food safety system fully aligned with European Union standards. It will strengthen the institutions responsible for official controls, modernise inspection procedures and laboratory capacities, support the harmonisation and effective implementation of legislation, and contribute to meeting the closing benchmarks under Chapter 12,” Salla added.
The minister said the project goes beyond supporting Albania’s EU accession negotiations, helping establish a food safety system that is more efficient, transparent and trustworthy for both consumers and businesses.
He added that, under the agreement, the German government will provide a 1 million euro grant, while the European Union will contribute an additional 12.5 million euros, bringing the project’s total funding to 13.5 million euros for the 2026–2030 period.
“This is a testament to the confidence our European partners have in Albania’s institutions and the reforms we are undertaking as part of the EU accession process. Equally important is the expertise this project brings. It means Albania will benefit not only from financial support, but also from the experience and best practices of European Union member states,” Salla said.
The minister said Chapter 12 is among the most complex chapters in Albania’s EU accession negotiations, as it directly concerns food safety, animal health, plant protection and public health.
“For this reason, the project focuses on what matters most: putting standards into practice. It will help us move beyond the formal alignment of legislation towards its effective implementation. It demonstrates that Albania is advancing towards European Union membership not only through political commitments, but through concrete, measurable and sustainable reforms,” Salla added.
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