For the past two years, IPARD funds intended for Albanian agriculture have been frozen due to suspicions of corruption, yet SPAK’s investigations have so far produced no concrete results. Brussels has repeatedly urged Albanian authorities to address the issue seriously, stressing that European funds must be properly safeguarded. The Ministry of Agriculture says it is working on external audits and other corrective measures, but there is still no clear timeline for the resumption of IPARD funding.
Esmeralda Topi
For two years, Albanian agriculture has been deprived of millions of euros from the IPARD III program, as EU funds for rural development have been blocked amid corruption allegations. Brussels has been calling on Albanian authorities for two years to handle the matter with seriousness, but their response has so far been slow.
Since 2020, the case investigating abuses of IPARD funds has passed through various justice institutions in Albania without producing any concrete results. Initially, the case was registered with the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK). After two years, SPAK declared itself incompetent and transferred the file to the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office. In September 2023, the case was returned to SPAK.
At that time, SPAK told Faktoje.al that the criminal investigation into fund distribution was still at a preliminary stage and, due to investigative secrecy, could not provide additional information.
The same response was given again in early August.
“The case is in the preliminary investigation phase. Due to investigative secrecy, we cannot disclose further information,” SPAK stated.
Thus, even after two years, the IPARD investigation remains in its preliminary stage. No names. No arrests. No indictments.
“They make you feel like there is no justice!” says Romeo Nazarko, one of the first whistleblowers exposing the IPARD fund abuse scheme in Albania. “I filed three complaints with SPAK, including one on IPARD, and all three have been ignored,” he adds.
In 2023, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) completed its administrative investigation into abuses of IPARD II funds and sent the final report, along with recommendations, to the Albanian authorities and the European Commission. In a statement to Faktoje.al, OLAF’s press office emphasized that decisions on any further steps now rest with the competent national authorities, according to their assessment. In other words, OLAF has passed the responsibility to Albania.
“OLAF conducts administrative investigations. It is then up to the competent authorities to decide on any further action regarding OLAF’s recommendations, based on their own assessment. For this reason, we are not in a position to provide further comments, including on the details of the investigation and the evidence collected by OLAF,” the OLAF press office told Faktoje.al.
European funds must be properly safeguarded
Since the suspension of IPARD funds, the European Commission has repeatedly emphasized that Albanian authorities must address the matter with full seriousness.
For two years, the Commission has stressed the need for corrective measures and complete transparency in the investigation of abuses, making these requirements essential for the resumption of funding.
The Commission is aware of an external audit commissioned by the Albanian government to verify IPARD II grants and payments, as well as the new internal management and control system. While bilateral procedures continue, no further details have been released, with the expectation that the issue will be resolved quickly and responsibly.
“The European Union is ready to continue supporting Albanian farmers, the agri-food sector, and rural areas in the future, provided that the financial interests of the European Union are properly protected,” a spokesperson for the European Commission told Faktoje.al.
No date yet for the resumption of IPARD funds
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development stated Faktoje.al that it “is fully engaged and implementing an action plan with concrete measures, coordinated with the European Commission structures.”
According to the ministry, the external audit “is currently underway, and its results are expected within this year,” marking one of the main steps toward resuming funding.
After the audit is completed, the ministry emphasizes that “procedures in line with the Framework Financial Partnership Agreement and the Sectoral Agreement” will be carried out. These steps are essential for finalizing the Financing Agreement for the IPARD III Program and opening calls for applications.
Despite these measures, there is still no specific date for the return of IPARD funds. The ministry adds that “once the audit is concluded and the recommendations implemented, the Financing Agreement will be finalized, and the calls for applications will be opened.”
For farmers and the wider agricultural sector, however, these remain only procedural steps in a process that has been delayed for a long time. They are asking for a concrete date for the resumption of funding, which would give Albanian agriculture much-needed support.
The IPARD agricultural support program provides grants to assist the agricultural sector in all countries in the EU accession process. Albania is one of five beneficiary countries. Under IPARD II, implemented from 2014 to 2020, Albania received over €71 million in funds. As the country was preparing to launch support under IPARD III with €146 million in grants, the European Commission suspended the program due to suspicions of corruption.
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