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EU pre-accession assistance for rural development (IPARD III)
IPARD III 2021-27 programmes
Overview of IPARD
The Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) is a funding mechanism designed to support countries in the process of joining the European Union (EU). A significant component of IPA is the IPA Rural Development Programmes (IPARD), which specifically target rural areas and the agri-food sectors of candidate countries. The current IPARD III programme spans the 2021-2027 period.
Objectives of IPARD
IPARD aims to assist candidate countries in gradually aligning with the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) rules. It provides financial and technical support to enhance the overall development of rural areas.
The main objectives are:
IPARD Support
The EU, through IPARD, offers concrete financial and technical assistance to beneficiary countries. This assistance is aimed at achieving balanced territorial development by improving social, environmental, and economic standards in rural areas. Key areas of support include:
For the 2021-27 period, the EU allocation for the IPARD III programmes is € 990 million. However, the total amount spent on IPARD funded projects will be higher as each beneficiary country also contributes to the overall IPARD support by providing national contribution (national public funding). In addition, for many of the measures, the recipients themselves are also required to fund a share of the projects’ costs.
Implementation
IPA III aims to support beneficiary countries in adopting and implementing the necessary reforms to align with EU values and standards. This includes political, institutional, legal, administrative, social, and economic reforms. The priorities of IPA III are outlined in the IPA programming framework, which is divided into five thematic windows corresponding to different clusters of negotiating chapters.
Thematic Window 4: Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth is particularly relevant to IPARD, focusing on strengthening economic and social development, including agriculture and rural development.
Beneficiary Countries
The countries currently benefiting from IPARD III and the indicative allocation € million:
The Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) is a funding mechanism designed to support countries in the process of joining the European Union (EU). A significant component of IPA is the IPA Rural Development Programmes (IPARD), which specifically target rural areas and the agri-food sectors of candidate countries. The current IPARD III programme spans the 2021-2027 period.
Objectives of IPARD
IPARD aims to assist candidate countries in gradually aligning with the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) rules. It provides financial and technical support to enhance the overall development of rural areas.
The main objectives are:
- increase the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, progressively aligning it with the EU standards (veterinary, food safety and phytosanitary), and improving the efficiency and sustainability of on-farm production, which will provide a better response to societal demands for safe, nutritious and sustainable food, This is increasingly important in order to align with the EU food safety rules and the EU Farm to Fork Strategy, at the heart of the EU Green Deal designed to make food systems fair, healthy and environmentally friendly.
- facilitate business development, growth and employment in rural areas, improve farmers’ position within the value chain and attract young farmers into agriculture,
- contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation, foster sustainable management of natural resources and contribute to the protection of the environment,
- improve community development and social capital in rural areas and build-up modern public administrations for agriculture and rural development, respecting good governance principles.
IPARD Support
The EU, through IPARD, offers concrete financial and technical assistance to beneficiary countries. This assistance is aimed at achieving balanced territorial development by improving social, environmental, and economic standards in rural areas. Key areas of support include:
- Agricultural Development: Investments in modernizing agricultural practices and infrastructure.
- Environmental Sustainability: Initiatives to ensure sustainable use of natural resources.
- Climate Adaptation: Projects to enhance resilience to climate change impacts.
For the 2021-27 period, the EU allocation for the IPARD III programmes is € 990 million. However, the total amount spent on IPARD funded projects will be higher as each beneficiary country also contributes to the overall IPARD support by providing national contribution (national public funding). In addition, for many of the measures, the recipients themselves are also required to fund a share of the projects’ costs.
Implementation
IPA III aims to support beneficiary countries in adopting and implementing the necessary reforms to align with EU values and standards. This includes political, institutional, legal, administrative, social, and economic reforms. The priorities of IPA III are outlined in the IPA programming framework, which is divided into five thematic windows corresponding to different clusters of negotiating chapters.
Thematic Window 4: Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth is particularly relevant to IPARD, focusing on strengthening economic and social development, including agriculture and rural development.
Beneficiary Countries
The countries currently benefiting from IPARD III and the indicative allocation € million:
These countries receive targeted assistance to improve their rural areas and agri-food sectors, thereby contributing to their overall stability, security, and prosperity in preparation for EU membership.
Available measures
IPARD beneficiary countries allocate their funding to specific measures outlined in their IPARD III programmes. The EU framework for IPARD III provides for 13 different measures, detailed in sectoral agreements between the European Commission and each beneficiary country.
IPARD beneficiary countries allocate their funding to specific measures outlined in their IPARD III programmes. The EU framework for IPARD III provides for 13 different measures, detailed in sectoral agreements between the European Commission and each beneficiary country.
- Investments in physical assets of agricultural holdings
- Support for the setting up of producer groups
- Investments in physical assets concerning processing and marketing of agricultural and fishery products
- Agri-environment-climate and organic farming
- Implementation of local development strategies – LEADER approach
- Investments in rural public infrastructure
- Farm diversification and business development
- Improvement of skills and competences
- Technical assistance
- Advisory services
- Establishment and protection of forests
- Financial instruments
- Promotion of cooperation for innovation and knowledge transfer
