What did the project do

Skills and capacities of government administrative and ministry staff were enhanced, and organization, procedures and work flows for policy coordination were improved. Trainings were held on statistics, marketing standards, quality policy, geographic indications, approximation in agriculture and rural development, economic and policy analysis and monitoring and evaluation of agricultural policy. An intergovernmental working group was established and the development of a gap analysis (on marketing standards for meat, dairy, fruits, vegetables, geographic indications) and consultation process led to the initiation of new amendments by public institutions to improve the implementation of the Geographic Indications (GI) scheme and national quality label, as well as clearer guidelines to regulate GIs. Based on the gap analysis for marketing standards, coaching and training courses were held to guide the approximation process and align national legislation with EU standards and policies, as well as to improve technical skills of the leadership of the ministry, its staff and other government agencies.