Skopje, 18th Annual Meeting of South East European Ministers of Agriculture
Anila Denaj, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development participated in the 18th Annual Meeting of Southeast European Ministers of Agriculture (SEE), organized under the care of SWG, in Skopje, to discuss future developments in the agriculture sectors, rural development, and increasing regional cooperation in this field.
In her speech at the meeting, Minister Denaj emphasized that recent developments have highlighted the need to reduce dependencies and diversify supply chains while aligning with the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
“The agricultural sector is facing significant challenges, including volatile market prices, the increasing impact of climate change, and limited access to finance, which hinders the success of small farmers,” Denaj stated. She added that it is essential to adapt policies in line with the proven strategies of the European Community, where the Common Agricultural Policy framework plays a key role in supporting farmers, promoting sustainable practices, and ensuring food security.”
Minister Denaj stressed that the Albanian government is committed to adopting best practices and improving cooperation, market access, and financing opportunities for farmers. She informed attendees of recent initiatives undertaken by the institution to provide financial support to farmers and agro-processors, aimed at modernizing the agricultural sector, particularly supporting innovation, investing in new technologies, increasing employment, and improving livelihoods in rural areas, which include grants and measures to improve access to finance.
The ministers and heads of delegations participating in the meeting discussed and shared their political commitments towards EU integration and policy aspects related to agriculture and rural development, particularly regarding the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, the extension of the EU’s CAP (Common Agricultural Policy), and alignment with EU acquis, the importance of the Agricultural Policy Dialogue, as well as the Berlin Process.
This topic was raised with reference to the “Jahorina Agenda 2024,” which represents the conclusions drawn from this year’s Agricultural Policy Forum held in Jahorina in June 2024.
Another important point was the signing of the Declaration on Food and Agriculture, which is a significant step towards formalizing cooperation between the Western Balkan countries within the framework of the Berlin Process, with a particular focus on achieving sustainable development goals in agriculture.