Brussels, 20/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 20 December, the European Commission announced that it had approved the 2007-2009 rural development programmes for Turkey, Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYRM). The IPARD rural development programme chimes perfectly with the Multi-annual Indicative Planning Document (MIPD) and other strategic documents on the candidate countries' accession process.
Turkey. Total eligible public expenditure amounts to €212 million over the period from 2007-2009, with €159.2 million coming from the Community budget. 73% of the total amount will go towards restructuring measures and modernising agricultural holdings to bring them into line with Community standards.
FYRM. The EU budget will contribute €19 million to the country's rural development programme (out of a total of €25.3 million). 78% will be spent on modernising agricultural holdings.
Croatia. Financial aid of €102.3 million has been allocated to Croatia's rural development programme over the three years from 2007-2009. The EU budget will contribute €76.9 million. 67% of the funding will be used to improve the competitiveness of the agricultural, agri-food, forestry and fisheries sectors. (L.C.)