1. Annual Conference of the South East European Associations of Fruits and Vegetables Processors, Spring 2010 Annual Conference of the South East European Associations of Fruits and Vegetables Processors, Spring 2010 Macedonian Association of Processors MAP Mr. Saso Risteski Executive Secretary Skopje, November 10, 2009 Opportunity for regional cooperation

2. Barriers to Trade Institutional Barriers to Trade Institutional Agriculture and food legislation still not harmonized with the EU legislation Agriculture and food legislation still not harmonized with the EU legislation Food sector still not integrated Food sector still not integrated Lack of CAP Lack of CAP Food Safety Agency? Food Safety Agency? Integrated phytosanitary system? Integrated phytosanitary system? Lack of Agriculture Marketing Information System Lack of Agriculture Marketing Information System Poor government – association/businesses dialogue Poor government – association/businesses dialogue

3. Barriers to Trade Technical Barriers to Trade Technical Food safety standards (Traceability, HACCP, EUREP GAP, ISO 22 000, BRC, IFS) Food safety standards (Traceability, HACCP, EUREP GAP, ISO 22 000, BRC, IFS) EU accredited laboratory EU accredited laboratory EU accredited certification body(ies) EU accredited certification body(ies)

4. Barriers to Trade Commercial Barriers to Trade Commercial Agency for promotion of Agriculture and Food products Agency for promotion of Agriculture and Food products Quantities to meet the requirements of large buyers Quantities to meet the requirements of large buyers Lack of marketing knowledge Lack of marketing knowledge –Market research –Branding –Positioning –Distribution –Promotion Raw materials supply – contract farming Raw materials supply – contract farming Financing the processing business Financing the processing business

5. Opportunities to Trade Harmonization with the EU legislation – unlimited access to the EU markets Harmonization with the EU legislation – unlimited access to the EU markets Joint exports Joint exports Utilization of green box measuresUtilization of green box measures Favorable credit lines and FDIsFavorable credit lines and FDIs

6. Conferences  The 1st Conference of Central and Southeast European Associations of Processors of Fruits and Vegetables, entitled as „Fit for the EU“ took place on December 4-5, 2003, in Ohrid, Macedonia.  120 participants on the conference, including guest speakers, representing associations, private sector, governmental institutions and donor project from the following countries: Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, Hungary, Germany, Slovenia, Switzerland, UK and EU.

7. MAP Activities after Ohrid conference in 2003 Two official visits to the Bulgarian Association (2003 and 2004) Two official visits to the Bulgarian Association (2003 and 2004) Contacts with EKE and visit to Greece, May 2004 Contacts with EKE and visit to Greece, May 2004 Meetings with Serbian Association and Albanian representatives at Novi Sad fair 2004Meetings with Serbian Association and Albanian representatives at Novi Sad fair 2004 The secretariat info sent to BiH and BG Ass. - June 2004 The secretariat info sent to BiH and BG Ass. - June 2004 No concrete outcome regarding the Secretariat No concrete outcome regarding the Secretariat Two visits of Albanian delegations to MAP members (2004) Two visits of Albanian delegations to MAP members (2004) Support and lobbying of EKE on MAP’s behalf in front of OEITFL Support and lobbying of EKE on MAP’s behalf in front of OEITFL

8.  The 2nd conference - December 09-10, 2004 in Vrnjacka Banja, Serbia. Around 120 participants on the conference from 14 countries. Main topic - Free Trade Barriers and opportunities for the national f & V industry EU markets.  The 3rd regional conference took place in November 2005 in Dures, Albania. More than 100 participants from 10 countries participated on the conference. Main topic - New aspects of food safety and regional free trade agreements.

9.  The 4th conference - November 23-24, 2006 in, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was organised by the B&H fruit and vegetable producers and processors Association, Supported by the entity Ministries of Agriculture in BiH and USAID‘s LAMP project. The conference program covered topics such as quality standards, EU approximation processes and experiences, FTAs and impediments etc. There were around 100 participants from all SEE countries.  The 5th conference took place on 29-30.11.07 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria under the motto: "The Processing of Fruits and Vegetables – Tradition and Innovations”. The Union of Fruits and Vegetable Processors (UFVP) in Bulgaria hosted the conference. The conference program icluded sessions on quality standards, tradition and innovations in F&V processing, EU food contacts legislation etc. There were around 100 participants present on the event.

10.  There was no conference in 2008 – Greek Canners Association (EKE) failed to organized the event.  MAP was contacted by Associations from the region regarding continuation of the conferences.  Contact and meetings took place during Anuga 2009.  MAP agree to organize the event in Spring 2010.  Support for professional organization of the conference. Contacts: Saso Risteski Executive secretary Macedonian Association of Processors – MAP Aco Karamanov 13 1000 Skopje Tel.: + 389 2 31 77 125 Fax: + 389 2 31 77 125 E-mail: map@t-home.mk www.map.com.mk