IPARD program and challenges in the process of european integration

The Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance for Rural Development (IPARD) represents a key mechanism of financial and institutional support provided by the European Union to candidate countries in the field of agriculture and rural development. The aim of this paper is to analyse the financial framework, implementation dynamics and achieved results of the IPARD programme in Serbia, with particular reference to the IPARD II (2014–2020) and IPARD III (2021–2027) programming periods. The study is based on the assumption that the IPARD programme has a dual role: the modernization of the agricultural sector and the institutional preparation of Serbia for the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) within the European Union framework. The analysis examines the structure of financial allocations by measures, the level of utilisation of available funds, and the challenges encountered during programme implementation. Special attention is devoted to investment measures related to the physical assets of agricultural holdings and the processing sector, which represent the core of programme support, as well as to new measures introduced within the IPARD III programme, including agro-environmental and climate-related activities, the LEADER approach and the diversification of the rural economy. The results indicate that Serbia is one of the major users of IPARD funds in the Western Balkans region. However, the structure of fund utilisation remains largely concentrated on investments in primary agricultural production, while significantly lower interest has been observed for diversification measures and non-agricultural activities. It can be concluded that the IPARD programme contributes to technological modernization, increased competitiveness and gradual alignment with the European Union acquis. Nevertheless, achieving the full effects of the programme requires strengthening administrative capacities, improving the level of information available to potential beneficiaries and enhancing the overall absorptive capacity of the system.