Skopje, 24 January 2024 (MIA) - Macedonian agriculture has shown it is prepared to absorb European funds, a prerequisite for modernization and development. We have become a success model that regional countries want to fdollow. They turn to us about policies they can apply in their respective countries, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy Ljupcho Nikolovski told panel on agriculture and balanced regional development within conference "Year of European Opportunities" on Wednesday.

Minister Nikolovski assessed 2023 as a year of exceptional success and announced a series of projects in 2024, including a focus on having more small food producers and end products.

"In 2023, we proved that a major part of the economy relies on agriculture. We did not see any protests, policies and programmes were the most important indicator. Macedonian agriculture is a success model on how to utilize European funds. We served as an example of how to use IPARD. Only ten percent of IPARD 1 was used and the country returned EUR 55 million to Europe, but in period 2017-2023 we did not return a cent. There is a record number of contracts, about 2,400, with over 2,200 already paid and investments realized. There is no way forward, modernization and development unless we use European funds. We need EUR 1 billion, which is a lot of money, and that is why we are the first country to launch IPARD III. There has been a record number of applications until now, over 1,100, with close to EUR 100 million requested," said Nikolovski.

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