Montenegrin agriculture will contribute to the European agricultural map

Montenegrin administration was on a right track to align its legislation with the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union and meet its goal, which was a strong agricultural sector with competitive farmers and food producers, it was concluded at a Subcommittee meeting on agriculture and fisheries.

The Adviser to the Chief Negotiator, Dragana Markovic, said that Montenegro had been working hard on harmonization with European standards since the previous Subcommittee meeting in Brussels, adding that relevant institutions had focused on transposition of the EU acquis and fulfilment of closing benchmarks.

“The fact that the largest number of obligations compared with all other chapters were planned for the last year, 95% of which has been met, shows how hard the line ministry has been working. The same trend in the field or transposition of the EU acquis continued in the first half of 2018”, Markovic said.

State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Đuro Žugić, pointed out that Montenegro is on the right path to fulfil its obligations in line with action plans, with the aim of adapting legislation to the common agricultural policy of the European Union.

“We believe that we have a unique goal, which is strong agriculture in Montenegro, presented through strong competitive farmers and food processors. This is our common goal because Montenegrin agriculture, although small in numbers, has a lot to contribute to the European agricultural map”, he said.

The Deputy Head of the Montenegro Unit at the Directorate-General for Enlargement, Barbara Jesus Gimeno, reiterated the commitment of the European Union to the region, saying that the Western Balkans and Montenegro had never been higher on the agenda of the European Union.

She said that Montenegro had made a progress in the development of its food safety sector, adding that the work defined by the action plans should continue in each of the chapters covered by the Subcommittee, which was equally important as the fulfilment of the closing benchmarks.

As regards the IPARD Project, Jesus Gimeno said that the EC appreciated Montenegro's ongoing efforts focusing on its implementation. She said that, in addition to the work under other negotiating chapters, the pace of negotiations will be determined by the progress made in chapter 23 and 24.

GENERAL SECRETARIAT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO
SECTOR FOR INFORMING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE EU AND THE EU ACCESSION PROCESS
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT