A tool for uniform classification and analyses of budgetary support to agriculture for the EU accession countries

Abstract

Allowing for the comparison of agricultural policies among countries and supporting the European integration process, a methodological tool was developed called the APM (Agri-Policy Measures tool). The tool enables the cross country qualitative and quantitative analysis of budgetary support to agriculture using uniform classification and systemization template primarily based on the current EU concept of the policy pillars. All agricultural policy measures are grounded on three main pillars: market and direct producer support measures, structural and rural development measures and general measures related to agriculture. Total budgetary support to agriculture should represent the sum of all transfers related to agriculture from all sources, but without administrative costs and transfers to non-agricultural sectors. The tool was applied for the analysis and comparison of agricultural policies in the Western Balkan countries and it proved to be useful for policy analysis in relation to the EU accession process.