Access to EU funds represents great opportunity for Serbian farmers - Establishment of Green Fund for new IPA projects also in the pipeline

Michael Davenport, the head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, is satisfied with the fact that Serbia has met the requirements to use the EU pre-accession funds for rural development, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection announced today.

As it was stressed, Davenport pointed out in a conversation with Serbian Agriculture Minister Snezana Bogosavljevic Boskovic that the Serbian government's green light for the employment of 103 people in the Agrarian Payments Directorate was of great importance for more efficient use of the EU assistance for agriculture.

This will ensure the implementation of IPARD (Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance in Rural Development) II programme that should contribute to a greater productivity and competitiveness of Serbia's agriculture, alignment with EU standards, adaptation to the requirements of both domestic and foreign markets, as well as to the enhancement of quality of life in rural areas, the Agriculture Ministry noted.

Bogosavljevic Boskovic also announced that Serbian lawmakers would be soon deciding on a set of regulations on ecology, including amendments and supplements to the Environmental Protection Law which call for the establishment of the Green Fund.

Money from the Green Fund should be used to co-finance future IPA projects and resolve relevant issues pertaining to environmental protection.