Skopje, 1 August 2023 (MIA) - Brussels is expected to send the financial agreement on the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance for Rural Development - IPARD III programme in the coming days, detailing the budget allocated for the country by years and measures, said Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy Ljupcho Nikolovski on Tuesday.

The first public call will be released shortly, thus making North Macedonia the first country in the region to start with the implementation of the new IPARD programming period.

Minister Nikolovski said the IPARD III budget is by 62 percent higher than the one for IPARD II.

"Last Friday, we received an official accreditation from Brussels to resume in IPARD III with the four measures that were previously implemented within IPARD II. This is another confirmation that regardless of the investigations by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), North Macedonia has received approval to resume with the same pace. Brussels is expected to send the financial agreement including the detailed budget by years and measures, which Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj will sign, immediately followed by the release of the first public call for the IPARD III, this making the country the first in the region to start with the implementation of the new programming period," said Nikolovski.

He added that the final call within IPARD II will be released on August 4.

Photo: MIA