The Fourth Interim Meeting of the Regional Expert Advisory Working Group (REAWG) on Organic Agriculture in SEE was held in the period 3 – 5 April, 2023 in Duress, Albania. The meeting was organized by the SWG as one of the planned activities in the continuation of the APD Project implementation. The meeting was attended by 20 participants physically, and four participants online. At the beginning of the meeting Ms. Stanimira Penkova Project Manager from the IAK, informed progress update on the “Agricultural Policy Dialogue, Germany – Western Balkans” project work since November 2022, and new activities in the Project.
The focus of the meeting was on the achievement of the EU Regulation 848/2013 transposing in each of the WBs countries/territories. After delivering the presentations by the representatives of the competent institutions, an intensive discussion was held, with special emphasis on the essential things that must be undertaken by the national representatives in the Western Balkans countries in order to speed up the process of adopting the Law on Organic Agriculture.
Participants discuss and expressed the need for technical support of the SWG and donors to achieve the goals of the respective countries/territories for the market development of organic agriculture with a focus on the EU Regulation implementation, mostly on the group certification and the control bodies segment of the legislative rule.
Development of the organic market must be done by the national authorities in close connection with the implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans and the process of European integration, aligned with the EU CAP 2022 – 2027.
Agenda _ The Fourth Interim Meeting of the REAWG on Organic Agriculture _ Duress – Albania
1. Information of the organic agriculture current legislation and needs_ Albania
2. Information of the organic agriculture current legislation and needs_Kosovo
3. Information of the organic agriculture current legislation and needs_ North Macedonia
4. The Kosovo National Organic Action Plan (NOAP)
5. Market development of organic products in the Western Balkans countries
