Search

3.99.   (...) In 2020, they approved a Government Procurement Strategy for the period 2020-23 which, inter alia, aims to ensure efficient and sustainable government procurement, improve the Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework, and establish an efficient complaint review system.(...)

4.2.   (...) The area used for forest increased during the review period, accounting for 1.1 million ha in 2021 and that for pasture and other land declining somewhat. According to FAOSTAT data, yields generally continued to increase during the review period. Soil erosion continues to pose challenges.

4.6.   Agricultural policy aims to primarily support economic activity and living conditions in rural areas by supporting agricultural enterprises and operators, and developing infrastructure, while aiming for environmental sustainability. (...) The Strategy of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fishing for 2021-27 spells out objectives in greater detail, focusing on the sustainable development of agriculture and rural areas, fisheries and the blue economy, and includes cross-cutting objectives related to capacity, innovation, and digitization.

Table 4.1 Disbursements under the National Agricultural Support Scheme, 2017 23
(ALL million)
Organic farming: (2017) 1.2, (2018) 3.1, (2019) 0, (2020) 8.1, (2021) 11.2; (2022) 10.8, (2023[a]) 49.8
[a] Planned amounts.

4.12.   For 2023, applications under the NASS[the National Agricultural Support Scheme] were accepted between late March and early April, with support measures focusing on increasing the competitiveness of livestock and agricultural production. Such measures include (...); support to improve plant cultivation including medicinal plants, apples, cherries, walnuts, pomegranates, chestnuts, grapevines, citrus, olives, wheat, and strawberries (for planting and solar greenhouse construction); (...); support for organic farming(...)

4.13.   As the completion of effective farm register and land parcel registration systems remains pending, support measures are administered using an annual application process with beneficiaries required to have a valid national tax identification number (NIPT) and being registered as farmers, but beneficiaries are not required to meet basic requirements regarding statutory management or good agricultural and environmental conditions to receive support.

Table 4.3 Planned support under IPARD[the Instrument for Pre Accession Assistance for Rural Development] III, 2021-27
(ALL million)
(...)
Area of support: Measure 4 – Agri-environment climate and organic farming: (2021) 0, (2022) 0, (2023) 13, (2024) 20, (2025) 31, (2026) 41, (2027) 193
(...)

Table 4.3 Planned support under IPARD[the Instrument for Pre Accession Assistance for Rural Development]
III, 2021-27
(ALL million)
(...)
Area of support: Measure 11 – Establishment and protection of forestry: (2021) 0, (2022) 0, (2023) 167, (2024) 167, (2025) 167, (2026) 167, (2027) 167
(...)

4.24.   According to the Strategy of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fishing 2021-27, a key objective is to formalize and expand the fisheries sector, while ensuring its sustainability. Fisheries policy in Albania continues to be regulated by Law No. 64/2012 on Fishing, and focuses on fisheries management, with particular focus on the setting of fishing quotas, fleet capacity management, market and aquaculture regulations, and support for small-scale fisheries and coastal communities. The Law was amended a few times during the review period, inter alia, by introducing a differential treatment of small and artisanal coastal fishing, strengthening resource protection and surveillance by fishing management organizations, and the registration of fishing boats to limit the total number of vessels other than small-scale fishing vessels. (...)

4.25.   (...) the Law on Fishing(...) also includes the provision of public goods relating to sustainability and environmental protection, or investments in fishery infrastructure. Reflecting developments at the European Union, certain support to enhance energy efficiency (while reducing engine capacity) and certain fuel subsidies in response to the energy crisis and the war in Ukraine were provided in 2022. (...)