Institutional strengthening of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, development and adoption of series of bylaws in line with the EU Acquis, as well as enforcement of laws on agriculture and rural development and quality of agriculture products are just some of the benefits of EU-funded project for Common Market Organization (CMO), implemented in the past 17 months.

The project involved all stakeholders - Government, farmers and manufacturers - aimed at developing a national strategy and framework policy for support in establishing cooperatives.

"The CMO project helped us in passing important bylaws in sectors grain, milk, meat, fruit and vegetables, as well as in creating measures for market support, which the Government is set to adopt in the coming period. It also identified areas that need to be addressed in the future for the purpose of increased institutional efficiency", said Minister Ljupco Dimovski at the project's final conference on Wednesday.

Referring to project achievements, representative of EU Delegation to Macedonia, Dieter Thiel said one must take into account the project's sustainability.

"The ministry needs to strengthen capacities of the planning sectors, especially the department for policy analysis. Efforts should also be invested in arrangements for coordination and progress in processes of harmonization with the Common Agriculture Policy. EU membership is very expensive and this aspect should not be forgotten. If you want to play in the premier league, you need an adequate stadium", underlined Thiel.

The CMO project developed the market information system, which provides timely and exact data on food producers, traders and all parties concerned, along with trainings of civil servants over the evaluation of EU standards, and development of manuals for the Payment Agency.