Skopje, 27 November 2025 (MIA) - Activities at the Agency for Financial Support of Agriculture and Rural Development are proceeding as planned, and IPARD applications are in the evaluation phase, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, Cvetan Tripunovski, said in response to MP Bojan Stojanovski's question at Thursday's Q&A session in Parliament. 

The Minister noted that upon receiving information about abuses by the agency's director and other individuals, the National Mechanism was activated, and the national coordinator took measures to immediately respond and temporarily suspend the agency's work in order to find out the facts.

"This does not mean a blockage of IPARD funds from Brussels, as the opposition claimed. Attempts to manipulate the public that we will lose EUR 130 million in grants and that farmers will be left without support are untrue," Tripunovski pointed out, adding that the state's response was positively assessed by Brussels.

The Minister stressed that the fight against corruption and crime must be uncompromising and across-the-board.

"The fight against corruption and crime knows no boundaries. We, as a Government and as a Ministry, have shown this in action. Regardless of whether someone holds a political or state office, if they have violated the law, they should be held accountable. Suspicions must be looked into and everyone involved must be held accountable," Tripunovski said.

He added that the previous government, despite public pressure, allegations and documents from whistleblowers, did not act on allegations of serious crime, especially in the Agriculture Ministry while it was headed by former Minister Nikolovski.

"However, let's also be honest, the previous government, i.e. current opposition, while in power, despite serious public pressure, evidence, allegations, etc. documents submitted by whistleblowers, did not act on the alleged crime that was taking place on a serious scale, especially in the Ministry of Agriculture, headed at the time by current MP Ljupcho Nikolovski," said Tripunovski. 

The total budget for the IPARD 3 program (2021–2027) is EUR 128 million, with the EU providing EUR 97 million, and the remainder EUR 31 million being national co-financing.

"Of the 453 concluded agreements, 289 have already been paid, 111 beneficiaries have not submitted payment requests, and 53 agreements are pending. The opposition's accusations that thousands of agreements will be left without funds and that agriculture will collapse, fall flat," the Minister said.

He added that the opposition is trying to score political points by twisting the truth. 

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