Velimir Stanojevic, State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, said that the Information covers April – June 2017, period when environmental protection was also in the Ministry’s purview, however only the part relating to agriculture, forestry and water management will be presented at the sitting.

Presenting the Information Stanojevic said that four directives and 31 rulebook were passed in said period, most of which concern the implementation of the Directive on allocations and stimulation packages for agriculture and rural development, rulebooks for the construction and equipment of facilities, for young farmers and veterinary production, as well the Rulebook on Registering Agricultural Households, plant health protection programme, etc. Speaking of international cooperation, the Ministry had realized significant bilateral cooperation with the People’s Republic of China having signed four bilateral agreements, had signed two bilateral agreements with Switzerland and one bilateral agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina about the management of the Drina river basin. Speaking of Negotiation Chapter 13 – Fisheries, the second draft negotiating position had been formulated, while the implementation of the SAA focused on building adequate administrative capacities for IPARD funds and establishing the National Reference Laboratory. In the reporting period the Ministry also took part in the agriculture fair.

Stanojevic added that the Green Book for 2016 was also published and the planting of new 10 thousand ha of hazels in cooperation with the Italian Ferrero is planned for the coming period, as is a public call for the selection of institutions for the realization of fruit production in Serbia in the next three years. Also, about 6.5 billion RSD of agricultural stimulus packages were paid in the reporting period.

Following a discussion the Committee members adopted the Ministry Activity Information for the second quarter of 2017.

The Committee also adopted a Conclusion requesting the Plant Protection Directorate to submit activity information for the period 3 June 2016 – 11 September 2017 to be discussed at the next sitting of the Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Committee.

In addition to the State Secretary, the Committee sitting was also attended by Emina Milakara, Head of the Veterinary Directorate, and Boban Djurovic of the Veterinary Directorate.

The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairman Marijan Risticevic and attended by the following Committee members and deputy members: Vladimir Djuric, Radoslav Cokic, Zarko Bogatinovic, Nada Lazic, Veroljub Matic, Radovan Jancic, Prof. Dr Miladin Sevarlic, Milija Miletic, Ognjen Pantovic and Jasmina Obradovic.