Skopje, 15 April 2024 (MIA) – An Ukrainian delegation, led by the deputy minister of agrarian policy and food, Markiyan Dmytrasevych, is in a week-long visit to North Macedonia to examine firsthand the Macedonian agrarian experiences on the path to EU accession. Why North Macedonia is the best in the region in using IPARD funds, how the Paying Agency is functioning, what are the benefits from land consolidation and the advantages of the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), are some of the country’s successful policies that will be presented to the guests from Ukraine. 

The first working meetings between the Macedonian and the Ukrainian colleagues took place Monday at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy in Skopje. Others are set to take place in the coming days.  

Speaking at a joint press conference alongside Dmytrasevych, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy Ljupcho Nikolovski announced that the Ukrainian delegation will visit a family-run winery in Rosoman, inspect the activities of the Agency for the Development of Agriculture, and visit some of the Ministry’s regional offices to study the principle of land consolidation in Pelagonija region. 

Nikolovski and Dmytrasevych vowed to increase cooperation, mainly trade.

The Ukrainian official thanked the country for its overall support so far.

“We’re grateful for the Macedonian political and military support and for joining the sanctions toward the aggressor. We will never forget this support. Even though Russia has been bombing the cities and military targets with missiles and drones, it is important for us to aim towards EU integration. We’re aware that this process won’t be easy and simple especially in the field of agriculture. That’s why we are grateful to the European Commission and to the Republic of Macedonia for the chance to be here and to lean what the country has to offer. We’re seeing opportunities to expand trade, especially in agriculture. We’ll work together to increase the flow of goods from Macedonia into Ukraine and from Ukraine into North Macedonia,” he stated. 

According to Nikolovski, North Macedonia and Ukraine have been fostering good cooperation and trade, which has the potential to be expanded. 

“Last year we signed amendments to the Free Trade Agreement, which enabled full liberalization of export of Macedonian tomatoes, cabbage, cucumber, grapes, apples and import of Ukrainian meat, meat products and products from oilseed crops,” Nikolovski said adding the agreement entered into force in July 2023. 

Macedonia, he stressed, has proven to be a sincere friend and supporter of Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion.

“I’m glad that Ukraine despite the armed conflict is making progress on the European path, which is also our path. I’m quite pleased that we’re here to help them in the process. We don’t have an alternative, they also don’t have one,” said the Macedonian minister. 

Nikolovski recalled that the country had been noted by the European Commission out of the other candidate countries for having made significant progress in aligning the agricultural policies and the legislation. 

“Ukraine is in the early stages of making changes to the law on agriculture, the establishment of the Paying Agency and the use of pre-accession EU funds,” he said. 

Photo: printscreen