Skopje, 27 June 2022 (MIA) – The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy launched on Monday the Twinning Light project “Alignment of Legislation and Implementation of the EU Acquis in the Area of Fisheries and Aquaculture in the Republic of North Macedonia.” Agriculture Minister Ljupcho Nikolovski, Croatian Ambassador Nives Tiganj, representatives of the EU Delegation in Skopje, as well as institutions involved in the project and Croatian experts in the area of fisheries and aquaculture attended the event, the Agriculture Ministry said in a press release. The project is worth EUR 250,000 and has a 10-month term. It is aimed at aligning national legislation with the EU acquis, as well as providing support to the capacity of institutions to more easily overcome the challenges that come in the accession process. “The Republic of North Macedonia is committed to the process of European integration and towards achieving the path set towards the European Union, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, using the Twinning instrument, requested support from the EU Delegation in Skopje, whereat the proposal was immediately accepted.  Thanks to their commitment and support we are here today to mark the beginning of this new and to us very important project,” said Nikolovski. The project’s main goal is to align national legislation in the area of fisheries and aquaculture through preparing legal acts for market standards and consumer information on fishery and aquaculture products, for recognition of producer organizations, intersectoral organizations, as well as structural and state support in line with requirements of the European Union and the Common Fisheries Policy. “The current rules and regulations relating to the marketing policy, structural activities and state support are partially aligned with the EU acquis. By implementing the activities of this project, further alignment with EU requirements in these areas will be achieved. This project will help to draft legal acts, such as a new law on the regulation of structural activities, rulebooks, as well as other accompanying acts, aimed at alignment with EU rules under Chapter 13 – Fisheries,” Nikolovski pointed out. He thanked the EU Delegation for the support to the country in the development of the agricultural sector. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy is the main beneficiary of the project, while the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Croatia is a member state project partner. “Croatia recognized North Macedonia as an excellent partner for cooperation. This is the 15^th project we are implementing in cooperation with your country. As a country with a longstanding tradition in the area of fisheries and aquaculture, we’ll be glad to have our experts share their knowledge with Macedonian experts, thus achieve the goal of this project, i.e. alignment of Macedonian legislation with European regulations in the area of fisheries and aquaculture,” Ambassador Tiganj said. In addition, Tiganj stressed that Croatia is a strong supporter in North Macedonia’s integration in the European family.