Project

Approach and Target Groups

Since its launch in November 2018 as a small technical dialogue on wine legislation, the Agricultural Policy Dialogue Germany – South East Europe (APD-SEE) has developed into a broad regional platform for agricultural policy cooperation operating at the intersection of policy reform, economic transformation, and EU integration. It supports partner coun-tries in the Western Balkans and Moldova in aligning their agriculture, food, and forestry sectors with EU standards while strengthening their competitiveness, resilience, and long-term growth potential.

By combining high-level political dialogue with technical expertise, APD-SEE facilitates co-ordinated reforms, fosters regional cooperation, and promotes innovation across key sec-tors. The project not only advances the EU accession process but also drives tangible im-provements in climate adaptation, sustainable resource management, and economic co-operation — positioning agriculture and forestry as strategic engines of socio-economic progress in South East Europe.

The sectoral dialogues within the Regional Expert Advisory Working Groups (REAWGs) on Organic Agriculture, Wine, AKIS, Agricultural Policy Monitoring, Forestry, and crop and livestock production under the Climate Change Adaptation Task Force bring together min-istry representatives, researchers, and international experts.The SWG, as the main project implementing organization, facilitates the decision-making processes for agreements on joint regional approaches and recommendations.

Building on the first phase, the second project phase (01/2026–12/2028) additionally in-troduces an economic component. This new dimension complements the policy dialogue with the aim of fostering closer agricultural trade and investment ties between Germany and South East Europe.

Expected results:

1. EU Enlargement and Agricultural Policy Reform:

Stakeholders of APD-SEE are engaged in structured political and technical dialogue on EU integration and apply harmonisation monitoring tools aligned with EU accession requirements.

2. Competitive and resilient agriculture and food sector:

Coordinated strategies for climate adaptation and for competitive, resilient agricultural development aligned with EU standards are applied by APD-SEE stakeholders.

3. Forest Policy and Management:

Forest policy and forest management systems in line with EU standards are improved by SEE stakeholders, imple-menting enhanced monitoring, risk prevention and international cooperation.

4. Deepening socio-economic integration:

Enhanced cooperation in priority areas drives private sector engagement and regional investments to strengthen mutual trade relations and increase competitiveness in the region.

5. Methodology and Public Relations:

APD-SEE planning, implementation, communication / PR and monitoring systems are strengthened to improve strategic steering, visibility, accountability and learning, including the use of innovative and non-traditional methods to manage complexity.