Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Agricultural Markets and ...

INTRODUCTIONThe Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Agricultural Marketsand Rural Development (‘AAMRD’) is a body within theMinistry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food of the Republic ofSlovenia which is constantly overcoming the challenges it facesin its role of an accredited paying agency and which stemfrom the demanding European and national legislation. Thekey success factor is professional and competent personnelalong with exchanges of information, knowledge and experiencewith numerous European and national experts and institutions.MISSIONThe Agency of the Republic of Sloveniafor Agricultural Markets and Rural Developmentis responsible for the timely andcorrect allocation of payments to farmersand other beneficiaries of the EAGGFfunds and certain national aid measures.The main mission of the AAMRD is the effective,quick and accurate technical implementationof agricultural policy measures.The AAMRD thus promotes the maintenanceand development of Slovenianrural areas and the strengthening of agriculturalmarkets. The AAMRD’s work coversall fields directly or indirectly associatedwith agriculture and the countryside.VISIONBy preparing and implementing a longtermplan for systemically supporting agricultureand its organisational development,the AAMRD intends to become acentral cohesive element between EU andSlovenian institutions and beneficiaries inthe field of agriculture. Besides the integrationand payment of funds, theAAMRD will place special emphasis onproviding information, training and counsellingto governmental and non-governmentalorganisations and companies inthe food-processing industry.TASKSThe Agency of the Republic of Sloveniafor Agricultural Markets and Rural Developmentis responsible for thoroughlychecking the administrative and substantialadequacy of applications received andclaims.As part of the processing of applications itperforms a number of controls that providethe basis for the accounting of paymentsand determining the amounts tobe paid in accordance with national andEuropean legislation.It ensures the proper and timely paymentof funds approved to final beneficiariesand reports about this to governmentaland European institutions.

FIELDS OF WORKDIRECT PAYMENTS INAGRICULTUREMeasures of the common agricultural policyin the field of direct payments (‘EKO0’) provide for a balance between ensuringa lower price of agricultural products,namely one that is more acceptable tothe market, and covering productioncosts involved in cultivating these products.EKO 0 payments used to be separatedinto direct payments for eligible areasand crop-specific payments (additionalpayment for the extensive farming of femaleanimals, a special bull and steer premium,a sheep and goat premium and anadditional sheep and goat premium).LESS-FAVOURED AREAS (‘LFAs’)Compensatory payments for less-favouredareas (‘LFAs’) are a common agriculturalpolicy measure.They are intended to support agriculture inless favoured areas for agricultural productionand areas with environmental restrictions.The purpose of these payments is tocompensate for the costs of productiondue to the more difficult production circumstancesand to support the landscapeconservation and population of such areas.The LFAs in Slovenia account for approximately86 %, which is nearly 75 % of allutilised agricultural areas.AGRI-ENVIRONMENTALPROGRAMME (‘SAEP’)The purpose of the Agri-EnvironmentalProgramme (‘SAEP’) measures is to promoteagricultural production that correspondsto the needs of consumers, protectshuman health, ensures the sustainableuse of natural resources, and contributesto the reduction of agriculture’s negativeeffects on the environment. Agrienvironmentalmeasures enable themaintenance of natural conditions, biodiversity,soil fertility, traditional landscapesand the conservation of protectedareas.In 2007 Slovenia introduced a new systemof direct payments called single-areapayments which do not link the subsidiesto production, with the single-area payments’goal being to make farmers’ incomesmore stable. The latter can decide onwhat to produce and thus adjust to demand.In order to be entitled to singleareapayments, a farmer has to have theright to payment and therefore theAgency allocated payment, entitlementsto beneficiaries in 2007.

AGRICULTURAL MARKETSIn the field of agricultural markets theAgency carries out intervention purchasesand sales, trade measures (issuing of import/exportlicences, management of securities,granting export refunds) and tasks ofthe market-information system (monitoringthe market situation of some agriculturalproducts). The Agency also implementsthe milk quota system.RURAL DEVELOPMENTNational measures and common agriculturalpolicy measures from the field of agriculture,forestry and fisheries implementedby the Agency are intended for the developmentand planning of rural areas, reconstructionof villages, improvement of theagricultural land structure, along with therestructuring and reconstruction of farmsand the food-processing industry. Until2007, funds were allocated via the RuralDevelopment Programme 2004-2006,whereas in 2007 Slovenia began implementingthe new Rural Development Programme2007-2013.The Agency also applies national measuresto eliminate the consequences of naturaldisasters, and measures to co-finance insurancepremiums for insuring agriculturalproduction and fishing.

E-BUSINESSEach year from 5 March to 15 May farmerscan lodge their multiple applications andclaims. In the framework of a multiple applicationthe beneficiaries fill in and submitclaims for direct payments as well as claimsfor agri-environmental measures (AEM)and claims for less favoured areas (‘LFAs’).Since 2006 multiple applications in an electronicform have become obligatory, whereassince 2007 they can also be submittedelectronically by means of a safe electronicsignature. Farmers can submit their multipleapplications in classical (paper) formsigned by hand, although the Agency onlyreceives 13 % of such applications whilethe remaining 87 % of applications are signedand submitted in electronic form. Thenumber of submitted multiple applicationsin the past few years was about 62.000.

TRANSPARENCY OF FUNDING RECIPIENTSThe first recipients of funds in Sloveniawere published on the Agency’s web pagesin 2005 and today every EU citizen can viewlists of all recipients of funds from bothSlovenian and European budgetary allocationssince 2004.According to data collected within the frameworkof the Farmsubsidy.org internationalproject, Slovenia came secondamong all EU member states in 2007 onthe basis of the transparency of fundingrecipients in the field of agriculture andrural development.

Name: Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for AgriculturalMarkets and Rural Development (AAMRD);in Slovene: Agencija RS za kmetijske trge in razvojpode`elja (ARSKTRP)Headquarters: Dunajska 160, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaLegal status: Agency within the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestryand Food of the Republic of SloveniaActivity: Implementation of Slovenian and EU agriculturalpolicy measuresYear ofestablishment: 1999 (operative since 2000)CONTACT INFORMATIONAddress: Dunajska 160, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaTelephone: + 386 1 580 76 17Fax: + 386 1 478 92 06E-mail: aktrp@gov.siInternet site: http://www.arsktrp.gov.siPublic relations: Maja Raki~, M.Sc. (maja.rakic@gov.si);telephone: +386 1 580 76 96EU affairs: Jo`ko Fornazari~ (jozko.fornazaric@gov.si)Vesna Zevnik (vesna.zevnik@gov.si)telephone: + 386 1 580 76 60