Minister of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Branislav Nedimovic presented the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Agriculture and Rural Development saying that the amendments and modifications benefit primarily agricultural producers and processors, beneficiaries of the IPARD pre-accession fund system and will allow the usage of 175 million EUR worth of funds. The amendments will fully harmonise the national legislation in the field of agriculture and rural development with EU regulations, which is a pre-requisite for the opening of Chapter 11. Nedimovic said that the amendments introduce a system of “control in the field” of fund beneficiaries by relevant authorities, and regulate the complete price system for agricultural products, while the participants in the process will be obligated to submit information on funds spent to the relevant Ministry. As he said, this would make the entire procedure more transparent.

Speaking of the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Stimulation of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Minister said that additional 3.2 billion RSD have been allocated to agriculture and environmental protection in 2017, and the scope of beneficiaries was expanded, especially in devastated areas and for livestock breeding. The Minister mentioned the support measures for young agricultural producers through earmarked funds, and, once the Bill is passed, the area is expected to be additionally regulated through by-laws. Speaking of rural development, the Minister said that the amendments and modifications to the Law mean the establishment of local action groups and define the classification of rural development measures.

Speaking of the Bill amending and modifying the Water Law, Nedimovic said that the amendments and modifications introduce new order into the filed. The existing legislation meant divided the duties concerning prevention and recovery, which has now been solved. The Bill also introduces a water management plan to be implemented into urban and plan documents. The irrigation compensations, formerly collected through the Tax Administration, will now be collected via water management enterprises. He stressed that the proposed water management regulations are in line with the EU Directive on environmental protection concerning the filtration and release of wastewater.

Following a discussion the Committee members accepted the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Agriculture and Rural Development, Bill amending and modifying the Law on Stimulation of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Bill amending and modifying the Water Law, in principle.

The sitting was attended by the following Committee members and deputy members: Jasmina Obradovic, Veroljub Matic, Tijana Davidovac, Zarko Bogatinovic, Milija Miletic, Marko Gavrilovic, Radovan Jancic, Dragan Jovanovic, Arpad Fremond, Danijela Stojadinovic, Goran Jesic, Nada Lazic and Prof. Dr Miladin Sevarlic.

The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairman Marijan Risticevic.