Serbia’s agriculture is in a good starting position to take part in the EU single market because it is one of the few European countries whose export in this field is higher than import, the Head of the European Integration Section Freek Janmaat told the Conference on Serbian Agricultural Policy.
“Taking into account the EU Membership candidate countries, Serbia is the only one achieving agricultural surplus in trading with EU countries and this is a good sign.” Janmaat said.
Janmaat said Serbia needed to further improve standards and quality in environmental and food safety and thus improve its competitiveness.
He announced further support to agricultural development through EU pre-accession assistance programmes, adding that it would relate to construction of laboratories and capacity building of institutions and inspection services.
In 2013 EU approved Serbia a €10,6 million grant aimed at supporting agricultural producers. Agriculture represents one of the main topics in the EU accession talks.
