- €112 million in EU funds for Albanian agriculture suspended indefinitely.
- Suspension follows misuse of previous funds and OLAF’s investigation.
- Albania’s Agriculture Minister announces an independent audit and corrective measures.
The European Union has indefinitely suspended €112 million in agriculture funding for Albania due to significant misuse of previous funds. OLAF’s investigation into the IPARD II program revealed serious irregularities, including inflated costs, fraudulent tenders, and misallocated resources.
The Albanian government is currently working on a corrective action plan and has engaged an external auditor to address these issues.
Albania’s EU Agriculture Funding on Hold Amid Corruption Probe
The delay in releasing IPARD III funds will persist until Albania demonstrates its capability to manage EU resources responsibly. Recent reports indicate that funds previously intended to support genuine farmers were misappropriated to politically connected entities. The matter is under investigation by the Special Prosecution Office, aiming to ensure accountability and restore confidence in the funding process
Agriculture Minister Anila Denaj has outlined a plan for corrective action and is working with an external auditor to review the situation. The audit will assess the full extent of the misuse and help determine the amount Albania may need to repay. Meanwhile, the timeline for resuming funding remains uncertain as Albania awaits EU approval of its action plan.
The misuse scandal has exposed deep issues within the fund distribution process, with reports showing that politically connected entities received significant benefits while genuine farmers were left out. This misuse has led to calls for greater transparency and accountability in the management of EU resources.
The Special Prosecution Office has initiated an investigation to uncover the full scope of the corruption and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. The EU’s decision to withhold funds underscores the need for Albania to demonstrate its commitment to proper fund management and governance reforms.
The indefinite suspension of EU agriculture funds underscores the urgent need for Albania to overhaul its management practices and address corruption. The ongoing investigation and audit are crucial steps toward restoring credibility and ensuring that future funding benefits those it was intended to support.
“Quick corrective actions have been taken for projects that are part of OLAF’s report, for the recovery of abused funds,” stated Minister Anila Denaj.
