Italy to allocate four million euros for alignment to European Union's acquis in agriculture, rural development

The Italian government will allocate four million euros for the implementation of a project titled, Support for Moldova’s government in aligning with European Union's acquis in agriculture and rural development.

According to the Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry (MAIA), this project is part of the national efforts to align with the requirements of the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy and to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, through actions aimed at ensuring food security, protecting natural resources and promoting modern agricultural education.

The project will be implemented through the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development (AICS), and the activities will be carried out with the support of experts from CIHEAM Bari, an institution with extensive experience in research, education and cooperation for sustainable agricultural development.

During the project's launch, the ministry reiterated Moldova's interest in expanding bilateral cooperation with Italy, especially in areas concerning farmers’ support, rural infrastructure’s modernization and sustainable agriculture’s development. MAIA emphasized that the partnership with Italy represented an example of effective collaboration in support of European reforms in the agricultural sector.

Italy is one of Moldova's most important European partners in the agricultural sector, providing technical assistance, expertise and financial support for production modernization, rural infrastructure improvement and enhancing the competitiveness of agri-food enterprises.

The collaboration is carried out through the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development (AICS) and the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (CIHEAM Bari) — two reference institutions in agricultural research and professional training.

The main areas of cooperation include: alignment with European Union standards in agriculture and rural development, including the adoption of European practices regarding food safety, product quality and environmental sustainability; supporting farmers and small- and medium-sized enterprises in rural areas through training, know-how transfer and facilitating access to financing; promoting sustainable agriculture, with a focus on the efficiency of resources’ use, soil conservation and reducing environmental impact; developing the agricultural education system, through experience exchanges and partnerships between educational institutions of Moldova and Italy.