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"There is no decision" - Brussels rejects the government's claim to return agricultural funds, which were blocked by corruption

2026-03-16 16:04:18Biznes SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

The Albanian government claims that IPARD program funds can be restored within a few months. But the European Commission told Faktoje.al that the procedure with the Albanian authorities is still ongoing and there is no deadline for the program's resumption.

Esmeralda Ball

On March 9, Minister of Agriculture Andis Salla paid an official visit to Brussels, where he met with leaders of European institutions to discuss funds for Albanian agriculture. 

In a reaction on social media, the minister announced the meeting with the Director General of the Directorate General for Agriculture at the European Commission, Elisabet Werner.

"A fruitful meeting... where we discussed Albania's progress in absorbing European funds for agriculture and rural development, as well as further steps for the effective implementation of the IPARD III program," Salla wrote, adding that the country's progress in fulfilling obligations related to this program was assessed.

However, the meeting was interpreted differently in some media outlets. A news story originally published by a national television station reported, citing sources from the Ministry of Agriculture, that the IPARD III program was entering a new phase and that funds for Albanian agriculture were expected to resume after a three-year suspension. The news was widely shared in other online media outlets. 

But such statements about the rapid return of funds are not new. 

At the end of last year, Finance Minister Petrit Malaj spoke of an imminent return of the program. Even this year, Minister Salla has mentioned concrete deadlines in several public appearances.

"We have done our duties, what was asked of us by the European Union. We are in Brussels on March 9 to continue the further steps so that within the first 6 months we have IPARD III," he said.

Brussels denies 

In a response to Faktoje regarding the Albanian government's claims about a quick return of funds, the European Commission emphasizes that the procedure is still ongoing.

According to the Commission, following OLAF's findings on the implementation of the IPARD programme in Albania, preventive measures have been taken to protect the financial interests of the European Union. A bilateral procedure is currently underway between Brussels and the Albanian authorities to ensure that corrective measures are put in place.

The Commission also clarifies that any funds that may prove to have been spent unfairly will have to be returned to the EU budget.

In this context, the Albanian government has contracted an external company to conduct a forensic audit on the grants and payments of the IPARD II program, as well as on the new management and control system.

But another important element is that, before the launch of the IPARD III program, the Albanian authorities must officially request the delegation of powers for the management of the funds.

According to the European Commission, such a request has not yet been submitted by Albania, which means that a deadline for the resumption of the program cannot be set.

"Given that the bilateral procedure between the European Commission and the Albanian authorities is still ongoing, no further information can be provided at this time," the response to Faktoje states.

Last week, Faktoje reported that 76 beneficiaries of IPARD program funds are currently in court proceedings for the return of the grants received. Meanwhile, the case remains under investigation by SPAK.

cONcluSiON 

The European Commission does not confirm the rapid return of IPARD funds. Given that the procedure between the parties is still ongoing and there is no official decision on the resumption of the program, the claim about the imminent return of funds turns out to be an untrue statement. Without an official decision from the European Commission, the statements on the release of IPARD III funds remain unilateral political promises.

The IPARD agricultural support program provides grants to help the agricultural sector for all countries that are in the process of joining the European Union. Albania is one of the five beneficiary countries of the grant support. Through the IPARD II program, which was implemented between 2014 and 2020, Albania received over 71 million euros in funds. And while the country was waiting to start supporting agriculture through IPARD III with 146 million euros in grants, the European Commission decided to suspend it based on suspicions of corruption. (Faktoje.al)


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