INTRODUCTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMON MARKET ORGANISATION MEASURES

Abstract

The policy of CMO was given little emphasis in the overall accession agenda of the Republic of North Macedonia, in the period 2007-2013. The priority was mainly given to the introduction of direct payments and rural development support measures, and, the policy generally favoured a liberal approach with less-regulated market environment except for incidental non-trade barriers applied for import of wheat and flour. With the economic and financial crisis in 2009, the approach was slightly amended and markets regulation measures were incorporated in the national policy. A system to monitor the markets and improve its certainty was established according to the Law on Agriculture and Rural Development provisions and aimed at improving contractual relations between economic stakeholders (farmers, processors, traders). It includes imposing additional requirements to the buyers of the agricultural products, their registration and having obligatory contracts for all trading transactions. In addition, a sectorial partnership with economic and social partners (the Sub-sectorial Standing Working Groups -SSWGs) at national level was set up to stimulate better market relations and foster private-public communication. However, the implementation of these policies has not been successful. It is estimated that many of agricultural products transaction are taking place outside the legal framework and that the SSWGs, after the initial enthusiasm, are not operational.