1. The Eastern Partnership Panel on Agriculture and Rural Development Dominik Olewinski European Commission Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum: Working Group 2 Conference 9 July 2015

2. Origins ENPARD launched in 2011 European Commission contracts FAO to carry out assessment of the ARD sectors in each of the six EaP partner countries and to identify common challenges Regional technical workshop in Brussels on 19 November 2012 discusses the results and proposes a more permanent forum Formal launch of the ARD Panel on 22 November 2012 under EaP Platform 2 "Economic Integration and Convergence with EU policies" 2

3. 3 Objectives Facilitate the exchange of experiences and best practices in sustainable and inclusive development of agriculture and rural areas – solutions used in the EU, EaP and other countries In this way, to serve to support the 6 Eastern European partners in developing and implementing their own sector policies and measures, including through ENPARD To ensure synergies between the policies and measures undertaken by the Partner Countries, facilitating the work of development actors such as the EU Facilitating networking and establishing closer bilateral cooperation between the members of the Panel Activities: presentation and discussions, selection of subjects for discussion, more specific events: seminars, trainings

4. 4 Work programme Policy responses to fragmented land holdings and ways of increasing the attractiveness of producer cooperation and integration; Building a rural development policy, assigning competence or budget resources; Practical solutions to increase the level of professionalism and training in rural communities and to develop advisory services; Definition of a regional codex for good agricultural practices; Identifying and addressing gaps in standards, regulations, legislation and comparative information; Developing the food safety system: phytosanitary-veterinary; Gradual update of technology and appropriate infrastructure and drafting of realistic investment plans in rural areas; Food security in strategic cereal and animal origin products; Potential solutions to limited finance and viable credit in rural areas; Community led local development (LEADER type activities); Diversification of activities in rural areas; Regulation and restructuration of agricultural markets; Reforming/reorganising agricultural science and education/professional development of specialists

5. 5 Participants and involvement of civil society ARD Panel meets at the level of experts from: Public authorities from the 6 Eastern European partner countries (up to 3 participants reimbursed by the EC) EU Member States, EU institutions (COM, EESC, EP), international organisations (FAO, OECD), financial institutions (EIB, EBRD) Civil Society representatives: -Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum – 2 participants in each meeting nominated by the CSF Secretariat, -1 Participant per each of the six Eastern European partners (invited directly by the Commission)

6. Meetings 3 meetings in Brussels  13 May 2013 – what is rural development, the EU approach to agriculture and rural development; the importance and key steps in preparation of a national strategy for rural development; and role of producer organisations and forms of public support fostering cooperation among farmers.  16 January 2014 – improving the level of professionalism among farmers and wider in rural areas, prepared also the ministerial meeting in Chisinau,  11 November 2014 – land fragmentation and land consolidation  November 2015 - ? 15-16 April 2015 - conference on "Rural and Agricultural Advisory Systems in the EaP" jointly organised by the EC and the Latvian Presidency in Riga  Panel's work programme envisages also more specific events (seminars, trainings, study visits) to be organised with the involvement and contributions of the interested EU Members States. 6

7. 7 Added value For the partners: new ideas for solutions in the sector (example of private advisory systems emerging in Armenia after the Panel meeting on improving agricultural advisory services) For the EC: ENPARD in 3 partner countries on-going – synergies and linkages (for those not so actively engaged with the EU in the sector – opportunity to follow the developments) For the EU MSs - a unique multilateral forum to listen to the challenges and needs of sector in the EaP partner countries Visibility to the sector: Panel prepared the Eastern Partnership Conference of Agriculture Ministers on 23 January 2014, Chisinau

8. Questions / Comments 8