Agricultural policies and European Union accession processes in the Western Balkans: aspirations versus reality

Figures & data

Figure 1. Total AS in the WBs (million EUR in 2010 prices), 2010–2017

Source: APM database (2018) (data for Serbia for 2016 and 2017 are provisional) except for inflation which is from Eurostat.

Figure 2. The relationship between the annual change of the total AS and the GDP growth in the WBs, 2010–2017

Notes: The GDP growth rate (%) and the yearly change in the total agricultural support (%) shown in the figure were calculated for the period 2011–2013 and 2014–2017 for all WB countries/territories.

Figure 3. Development of the market direct producer support in the WBs (index 2010 = 100 in 2010 prices), 2010–2017

Notes: RHS: right hand side

Figure 4. Development of structural and rural development support in the WBs (index 2010 = 100 in 2010 prices), 2010–2017

Source: Calculated based on policy data from the APM database (2018) and inflation from Eurostat.

Figure 5. Development of other AS in the WBs (index 2010 = 100 in 2010 prices), 2010–2017

Source: Calculated based on policy data from the APM database (2018) and inflation from Eurostat (data for Serbia for 2016 and 2017 are provisional).

Figure 6. Relative level of total AS in the WBs and the EU (% of agricultural output; EUR/ha), 2017

Sources: APM database (2018) (data for Serbia are provisional); authors’ calculations based on data from the OECD PSE/CSE database (OECD database 2018) and financial report on EAFRD (EC 2017); Eurostat

Figure 7. Composition of the total AS in the WBs and the EU (% of agricultural output, EUR/ha, % of total support), 2017

Sources: APM database (2018) (data for Serbia are provisional); authors’ calculations based on data from the OECD PSE/CSE database (OECD database 2018) and financial report on EAFRD (EC 2017); Eurostat

Figure 8. Composition of market and direct producer support in the WBs and the EU (% of agricultural output, EUR/ha, % of first pillar support), 2017

Sources: APM database (2018); authors’ calculations based on data from the OECD PSE/CSE database (OECD database 2018) and financial report on EAFRD (EC 2017); Eurostat

Figure 9. Composition of direct support in the WBs and the EU (% of agricultural output, EUR/ha, % of direct payments), 2017

Sources: APM database (2018); authors’ calculations based on data from the OECD PSE/CSE database (OECD database 2018) and financial report on EAFRD (EC 2017); Eurostat

Figure 10. Composition of the structural and rural development support in the WBs and the EU (% of agricultural output, EUR/ha, % of structural and rural development support), 2017

Sources: APM database (2018); authors’ calculations based on data from the OECD PSE/CSE database (OECD database 2018) and financial report on EAFRD (EC 2017); Eurostat

Figure 11. Composition of support for the provision of environmental and societal benefits in the WBs and the EU (% of agricultural output, EUR/ha, % of support for environmental and societal benefits), 2017

Sources: APM database (2018); authors’ calculations based on data from the OECD PSE/CSE database (OECD database 2018) and financial report on EAFRD (EC 2017); Eurostat

Table 1A. Conceptual framework for assessing the accession and pre-accession agricultural policy harmonization process

Agricultural policy principles	Pre-accession agricultural policy framework (PRE-ACCESSION MODEL)	Agricultural policy framework upon accession (ACCESSION MODEL)
P1. Strategic policy framework
Strategic planning Administrative capacity Indicators and monitoring Policy evaluation Policy management	Adopting strategic planning of agricultural policy. Establishing administrative capacity. Establishing a system of analytical support for policy formation and implementation. Establishing policy monitoring and evaluation.	Strategic planning/policy cycle as the basis of policy management. Defining intervention needs and clear intervention logic of measures. Administrative capacity in place. Policy monitoring and evaluation. Indicators and analytical support.
P2. Size and allocation of financial resources
Provision of public funds for agricultural policy and rural development Producer support/rural development ratio	Ensuring funding for support of farming sector and rural areas. Efficient rural development policy (sufficient funding and absorption capacity of funds).	Ability to contribute to EU budget and co-finance EU rural development measures after accession. Balanced ratio between direct support and rural development measures.
P3. Direct producer support
Adoption of the CAP type of support Clear eligibility criteria Environmental conditionality of the support System for implementing and distributing the support	Shift to decoupled payments and linked to environmental conditionality Set-up of clear eligibility criteria. Introducing support disbursement system that is upgradable upon accession.	Full transition to decoupled payments. Limited share of coupled support in the total producer support. Environmental conditionality of direct payments. Equal treatment of beneficiaries and transfer of support to smaller farms. Functioning IACS, LPIS and other control systems for disbursement of the support.
P4. Measures to improve competitiveness
Investments in primary agricultural production Investment in food processing Investments in land Support for producer organizations Support for food quality schemes Advisory and extension service Research, innovation and transfer of knowledge and technology	Adoption of measures to support competitiveness. Functioning IPARD system of support and reasonable absorption of funds. Establishing the advisory and extension service. Recognizing the role of institutions for knowledge formation and transfer (e.g. AKIS).	Ability to adopt a effective measures addressing competitiveness (reflecting the national needs). Functioning systems for distribution of the support and project selection Functioning advisory and extension service Ability of the private sector to propose and implement viable competitiveness enhancing projects
P5. Policy for sustainability and public goods provision by the farming sector
Environmental and social objectives Public goods Agro-environment and climate measures Support for organic farming Support for areas with natural constraints and high natural value farmland Animal welfare measures Environmental conditionality of direct payments Move toward results-based form of support	Expanding priorities to include environmental and social aspects of farming. Recognizing the environment as a priority and establishing model for environmental and conservation elements of agricultural policy. Implementing specific (pilot) measures addressing environment and provision of public goods, e.g. ANC pilot support, support for organic farming, pilot schemes for AECM.	Environmental orientation of agricultural policies. Expanding policy beyond narrow sectoral and production-oriented aspects. Ability to adopt and implement effective measures addressing environment and nature conservation. Established and functioning conditionality system for direct payments. Established results-based form of support system
P6. Quality of life and employment
Local support Rural employment Diversification of activities Social inclusion Support for improvement of living conditions in the countryside (e.g. infrastructure, social services)	Establishing (pilot) system for local support and identification of local needs (e.g. LEADER). Functioning IPARD measures in this field. Adopting the intervention logic of measures in this field and conducting pilot projects.	A functioning local support system (LEADER model). Ability to adopt and implement effective measures addressing employment, diversification of activities and other broader elements of rural development and improvement of living conditions in rural areas. Support for social inclusion.

Source: own analysis.

APM database. 2018. “Consolidated Database Compiled for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.” Agricultural Policy Measures (APM) Database. Skopje: SWG. http://app.seerural.org/agricultural-statistics/

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OECD database. 2018. Producer and Consumer Support Estimates Database. Paris: OECD. http://www.oecd.org/tad/agricultural-policies/producerandconsumersupportestimatesdatabase.htm/

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EC. 2017. 10th Financial Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) 2016 Financial Year. Brussels: European Commission.

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