1. The strategic objective of pre- accession assistance to Albania is: to support the country in moving towards membership of the European Union.

2. 1) What have been the experiences of technical asistence so far? experiences of technical asistence: experiences of technical asistence: During 1991-2008 European Union was present in Albania through its own programmes. During 1991-2008 European Union was present in Albania through its own programmes. Phare programme gived lot of assistance from 1991 to 2000 Phare programme gived lot of assistance from 1991 to 2000 From 2001 to 2006, Albania benefited from CARDS (Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation) assistance. From 2001 to 2006, Albania benefited from CARDS (Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation) assistance. in four reform priorities: in four reform priorities: a) justice and home affairs (about 40% of the funding), a) justice and home affairs (about 40% of the funding), b) administrative capacity building (about 20%), b) administrative capacity building (about 20%), c) economic and social development (about 35%) and c) economic and social development (about 35%) and d) democratic stabilisation (about 5%). d) democratic stabilisation (about 5%).

3. experiences of technical asistence: experiences of technical asistence: Support provided through CARDS (Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation) 2006, IPA (Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance) 2007 and 2008 implemented and there is a pipeline of projects and among other areas are: regional development, regional development, agriculture, rural development, agriculture, rural development, environment, environment, statistics, consumer protection, ect. statistics, consumer protection, ect.

4. experiences of technical asistence: experiences of technical asistence: Beside EC assistance, several other donors are active in key areas: Beside EC assistance, several other donors are active in key areas: a)Economic development is promoted by Austria, France, Italy, Spain and the UK Austria, France, Italy, Spain and the UK b)Assistance regarding European Standards (including food safety, agriculture, and (including food safety, agriculture, and environment) is provided by Austria,Germany, environment) is provided by Austria,Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, Japan and the Czech Republic, Italy, Japan and USAID. ( United States Agency for International Development) USAID. ( United States Agency for International Development)

5. 2) What are the key elements of succes? the key elements are: the key elements are: For the period 2009-2011, follow-up of CARDS/IPA (Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation) / (Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance) projects needs to be ensured as necessary. For the period 2009-2011, follow-up of CARDS/IPA (Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation) / (Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance) projects needs to be ensured as necessary. The priority areas for support will be: The priority areas for support will be: a)in the areas of internal market, agriculture and rural development, and rural development, b)food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary policy, policy, c) environment.

6. the key elements are: the key elements are: a)Assistance with the aim to support the alignment to the agricultural acquis, to increase economic growth by developing agriculture and rural development sector and institution and capacity building with the aim to prepare the sector to absorb pre-accession funds as well as support to increase the competitiveness of agriculture and agro-food chain;improve availability of statistics. b) Continued efforts remain necessary to increase the capacity and effectiveness of its executive and legislative bodies.

7. the key elements are: the key elements are: a ) higher contribution from the agriculture and rural development a ) higher contribution from the agriculture and rural development sector to economic growth; sector to economic growth; b)strategy on food production and rural development revised and b)strategy on food production and rural development revised and consistent with pre-accession assistance provisions; consistent with pre-accession assistance provisions; c)preparations for the implementation of the strategy started; c)preparations for the implementation of the strategy started; d)the administrative structures, responsible for the harmonised d)the administrative structures, responsible for the harmonised implementation of agricultural policy and rural development implementation of agricultural policy and rural development measures are established and become operational; measures are established and become operational; e)advisory and extension services for farmers supported; e)advisory and extension services for farmers supported; f)improved sector analysis and strengthened civil society f)improved sector analysis and strengthened civil society organisations in the area of agriculture and rural development; organisations in the area of agriculture and rural development; g)increased access for farmers to credits. g)increased access for farmers to credits.

8. 3) Which were the main challenges for the cooperation and how did you solve them? main challeng were: main challeng were: a)Particular attention should be devoted to the areas of agriculture and rural development, regional development, consumer protection. b) After the SAA came into force on 1 April 2009 a key challenge for Albania over the next three years will be to ensure compliance with the SAA (Stabilisation and Association Agreement ) requirements. c) Strategic choices have been identified based on lessons learned, considering absorption capacity of the administration, and including project management capacity and project readiness. d) Support the national market surveillance strategy; strengthen institutions and administrative structures in the field of consumer protection and health e) Supporting programmes are foreseen to allow Albania to participate in Community agencies and institutions, as well as in Community programmes. Access should be also provided to the Project Preparation and Technical Assistance Facility:

9. m. ch. and possibly for solve them: m. ch. and possibly for solve them: IPA (Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance) national programe for Albania: 2008: * Capacity building for implementing the 2008: * Capacity building for implementing the rural development strategy; rural development strategy; * Improving of consumer protection * Improving of consumer protection against zoonotic diseases; against zoonotic diseases; 2009: Consolidation of the food safety system in 2009: Consolidation of the food safety system in Albania; Albania;

10. m. ch. and possibly for solve them: m. ch. and possibly for solve them: During this year a seminar is held by IPA (Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance) for plant genetic recourses: During this year a seminar is held by IPA (Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance) for plant genetic recourses: In Albania, there are 3250 kinds of plants compared to 11 000 plant that are found in Europe or 29.5 %. In Albania, there are 3250 kinds of plants compared to 11 000 plant that are found in Europe or 29.5 %. There are some institutions in Albania that deal with genetically recourses: * Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Protection with 5 centres of Transfer of Agricultural Technologies. * Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Protection with 5 centres of Transfer of Agricultural Technologies. * Agriculture University with genetical bank. * Agriculture University with genetical bank.

11. m. ch. and possibly for solve them: m. ch. and possibly for solve them: Future challenges for genetic recours: Future challenges for genetic recours: The study, inventory and recuperation of genetical recourses that are importet for agriculture. The study, inventory and recuperation of genetical recourses that are importet for agriculture. Database composition. Database composition. Specialist traininig in Genetical recourses. Specialist traininig in Genetical recourses. Strategy composition. Strategy composition. Setting up in situ gardends for saiving endangered genetical recoursis. Setting up in situ gardends for saiving endangered genetical recoursis.

12. m. ch. and possibly for solve them: m. ch. and possibly for solve them: Conclusion: Conclusion: Communitary Agencies will offer as their assistance to put in practice different project in agriculture, throu IPA. (Instrument for Pre- accession Assistance) Communitary Agencies will offer as their assistance to put in practice different project in agriculture, throu IPA. (Instrument for Pre- accession Assistance) Thank You Osman Hoxha ALBANIA