On June 18-22, AIPA hosted a team of experts from the Lithuanian Payments Agency

Recently, on 5 March 2012, the Agency for Intervention and Payments for Agriculture (AIPA) from Moldova and the Lithuanian National Payments Agency signed a collaboration and partnership agreement.
Thus, between June 18-22, 2012, according to the provisions of the collaboration agreement referred to above and the action plan for 2012, the two signatory agencies shared their experience at AIPA office in Chisinau.
The purpose of the visit was to obtain information on the experience and the success story of the EU accreditation of the Payments Agency: principles, criteria, procedures, documentation, human resources development and management, the best structure and the institutional organisation, on- the-site control of implementation of agriculture support and rural development measures according to the national legislation.
During the visit, the representatives of both agencies had the opportunity to present the specific support measures implemented by them, the eligibility criteria, the procedures related to fillin-in and submitting of applications for direct payments and investment projects, recommendations for working out and writing business plans, as well as control procedures.
One of the important issues to which the parties paid particular attention was e sharing of knowledge about the process of accreditation in terms of management of agriculture and rural development funds of the European Community, including SAPARD/ENPARD. The parties discussed the problems arising during the implementation of such accreditation activities as well as the possible solutions to avoid them.
The counterparts also discussed the possible ways to prevent corruption, information security, analysis and prevention of irregularities of any kind. The workshop agenda also included two field trips. Thus, the Lithuanian expert team had the opportunity to visit the vegetable greenhouses in Bardar village, Ialoveni district. The farmer, who grows tomatoes and cucumbers on about 3.5 ha of land, told the guests about the techniques applied in greenhouses to obtain quality products and maximum income with minimum costs. On the fourth day of the working visit, the Lithuanian experts accompanied by the AIPA experts went to the Balti regional subdivison and conducted a joint inspection of the investment project implemented by a business entity in Balti.
This type of study/work visits of foreign experts to our country are always welcome considering Moldova’s need to align to European standards, including in agriculture and industry, and implementation an of an efficient and transparent mechanism for farmers' support through the subsidization fund is a necessary practice for our country.
It should also be noted that the visit of the Lithuanian delegation resulted in initiation of a Twinning project and establishment of a working group that will carry out a study visit to Lithuania in autumn.