Contribution of Lithuanian agricultural experts in the implementation of EU Twinning project in Serbia
In Belgrade (Serbia), the closing meeting of the European Union (EU) Twinning project "Strengthening and adaptation of administrative capacities for the introduction of the Organization of Agricultural Markets" took place, where the achievements of the project were highlighted. This project was implemented by a consortium of the Lithuanian, Polish and French experts in close cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Serbia. In this project Poland was the Project Leader, while Lithuania and France – Junior Project Partners. The Lithuanian Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), as a Junior Partner of the project, together with the experts of the Agricultural Data Centre and the National Paying Agency, shared experience in Serbia for 33 months. The following results were achieved: new sets of rules were prepared for the quality standards of eggs, poultry and dairy products; a support programme for the beekeeping sector, strategies for milk and dairy products in school programmes were developed, agricultural marketing information system was improved, a system of public interventions and private storage support was created, guidelines for trade mechanisms were prepared. Two study visits of the Serbian representatives to Lithuania were organised within the scope of the project.
During the implementation of this project, the Resident Twinning Adviser, the Chief Adviser to the Strategic Planning Department in the Lithuanian MoA, Vygantas Katkevičius, residing in Belgrade, successfully coordinated the project activities. Junior Project Leader, Head of the International Affairs and Export Promotion Unit of the MoA Antanas Venckus positively assessed the results achieved by the Lithuanian experts during the implementation of the project and was pleased with the close cooperation established with Serbian colleagues.
"It is very important for us that the Serbian colleagues appreciated the experience of the Lithuanian experts and the goodwill in conveying it. By implementing this project, we created a basis for further cooperation and development, ensuring that the benefits of this project will remain in the future," said Antanas Venckus.
The EU Twin Project aims to strengthen the administrative and technical capacities of Serbian institutions to implement common market organisation mechanisms in accordance with the EU regulations and to ensure that the Serbian agricultural sector is well prepared to meet the needs of the domestic and international markets following the EU requirements.