AMA International Cooperation (IC-AMA) celebrates its 10th anniversary

10 years ago, on Jan 1st 2003, the administrative department “International Cooperation” was officially established within Agrarmarkt Austria (AMA), the Austrian Paying Agency for Agriculture and Rural Development. Its main task from the very beginning was to support Middle- and Eastern European countries during their alignment process with the EU concerning Agricultural and Rural Development administration.

The tool box for this support included mainly Twinning projects, but also Technical Assistance, CEI- know how exchange programmes, bilateral cooperation and of course, the organization and execution of numerous study visits from countries all over Europe.

More than 30 major projects have been implemented successfully in the area of Twinning alone. This was done in sixteen European countries, nine of which have since gained EU membership.

“Our contribution was more than just a drop in the ocean.” says Franz Patschka, Head of Department for International Cooperation. “In our field of work we can clearly see that we have influenced the agricultural administration in the beneficiary countries in long lasting and positive ways, and there is still regular and intensive exchange on an expert level. We have literally established ‘International Cooperation’ with our European Neighbours and we are positively going to continue this for the next 10 years. “