EU Agriculture Funds Favour Businessmen Linked to Politics and Crime over Farmers

In 2018, the Agricultural and Rural Development Agency (ARDA) in Albania was accredited to distribute grants totalling 94.6 million euros through the IPARD II Programme. Of this budget, 71 million euros was allocated by the European Commission and 23.6 million euros by the Albanian state.

EU Investigative Journalism Awards Prize Third Place Winner

The third phase of the programme was expected to begin in Albania this year. However, the European Commission has taken the extreme measure of temporarily suspending the agricultural support programme due to suspicions of corruption in the distribution of grants, as reported by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).

When it comes to North Macedonia, the IPARD II budget was 80 million euros. By May 2023, 49.2 million euros had been spent. Most of the remaining funds have been allocated to projects, but have not yet been paid to the beneficiaries for various reasons.

In Albania and North Macedonia, farmers have said that they find it very difficult to apply for the programme, and that their applications have not been accepted. Some of the large companies that have benefited have been identified due to their links to politics and organised crime. Although there have been a few investigations into the misuse of funds, evidence of corruption indirectly shows the involvement of state agencies in corrupt schemes.

📷 Arlind Veshti - Preng Doda's project to build a winery in Tene village, Mirdita, Albania, remained just that: a dream.