INTERIM REPORT NO.1

Executive summary

The project “Capacity Building of Veterinary and Plant Health Services in the Western Balkans – Lot 1 – Animal Health” presents continuation of the previous ADEWB Project[1]. Although the project title has been modified, the ADEWB II acronym is used to show continuity between the two contracts.

The Interim report No.1 of the project covers the reporting period from November 2022 until 30th April 2023.

During the reporting period the Project team of KEs and SNKEs operated both from the project office in Skopje and have visited all beneficiary countries.

Five project activities were initiated in the reporting period: A1 (Support to develop an Animal Health control system aligned with EU standards that would comply with the accession requirements); A4 (Disease surveillance, for African swine fever and classical swine fever); A8 (Information Management Systems); A10.1 Further develop and maintain the general overview of ongoing projects in the IPA beneficiaries countries and set up cooperation where appropriate and possible; and A10.2 (Support organization of regular meetings of the Western Balkan CVOs Forum, established in the framework of ADEWB project. Further develop and quality check the specific national strategies as well as the regional strategies for the control of the concerned diseases and identify gaps on cooperation both internal and external in the veterinary service). These activities will continue in the next period when the project deliverables and results will be available.

The project reassessed the project implementation and timing schedule for the next six-month implementation period (May – October 2023) and will continue with adopted activities. The Contractor’s backstopping team is also ensured to sufficiently support project experts in line with project needs.

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INTERIM REPORT NO.2

Executive summary

The Interim Report No.2 of the project covers the reporting period from 1st of May 2023 until 31th October 2023.

During the reporting period the Project team of KEs and SNKEs worked from the project office in Skopje, visited beneficiary countries, as well as operated from their home base.

Five project activities were initiated/continued with its implementation in the reporting period: A1 (Support to develop an Animal Health control system aligned with EU standards that would comply with the accession requirements); A4 (Disease surveillance, for African swine fever and classical swine fever); A4/A6 (Disease surveillance and Support of vaccination programmes for rabies); A10.1 (Further develop and maintain the general overview of ongoing projects in the IPA beneficiaries countries and set up cooperation where appropriate and possible) and A10.2 (Support organization of regular meetings of the Western Balkan CVOs Forum, established in the framework of ADEWB project. Further develop and quality check the specific national strategies as well as the regional strategies for the control of the concerned diseases and identify gaps on cooperation both internal and external in the veterinary service).

These activities will also continue in the next period to further complement already delivered project results.

The project reassessed the project implementation and timing schedule for the next six-month implementation period (November 2023 – April 2024) and will continue with adopted activities. The Contractor’s backstopping team is also ensured to sufficiently support project experts in line with project needs.

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INTERIM REPORT NO.3

Executive summary

The Interim Report No.3 of the project covers the reporting period from 1st of November 2023 until 30th April 2024.

During the reporting period the Project team of Key Experts (KEs) and Senior Non-Key Experts (SNKEs) worked from the project office in Skopje, visited beneficiary countries, as well as operated from their home base.

The focus of project actions was on completion of surveillance plans for African swine fever (ASF) and Classical swine fever (CSF). At the time of writing of this report, the ADEWB II Project Team may confirm that a common understanding was reached, particularly on the objectives and scope of the ASF and CSF surveillance programmes.

Intense project activities were also allocated to biosecurity on pig farms where ADEWB II Project SNKE provided her proposal for improvement of biosecurity conditions at farm level to support the control of ASF.

Project activities related to legislation continued and national action plans for alignment of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 – Animal Health Law (EU AHL) were updated.

The other project activities as reported with this Interim Report 3 were in their initial phase and will continue more intensively in the next reporting period.

The project reassessed the project implementation and timing schedule for the next six-month implementation period (May 2024 – October 2024) and will continue with adopted activities. The Contractor’s backstopping team is also ensured to sufficiently support project experts in line with project needs.

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INTERIM REPORT NO.4

Executive summary

Interim Report No. 4 of the ADEWB II Project covers the reporting period from 1 May 2024 to 31 October 2024. During this time, the Project Team, consisting of Key Experts (KEs), Senior Non-Key Experts (SNKEs) and Junior Non-Key Experts (JNKEs), carried out activities from the project office in Skopje, conducted visits to beneficiary countries, and operated remotely from their home bases.

Key project actions during the reporting period focused on strengthening the organization of veterinary competent authorities. Notably, an SNKE developed a mathematical model to calculate the required number of official veterinarians based on anticipated workloads, alongside a proposal for procedures to monitor their effectiveness. Legislative activities progressed with updates to national action plans for alignment with Regulation (EU) 2016/429 – the Animal Health Law (EU AHL).

The team allocated significant efforts to support the endorsement of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for sample collection, packaging, and dispatching, as well as to facilitate the designation of National Reference Laboratories (NRLs). Additionally, the analysis of Oral Rabies Vaccination (ORV) campaigns in the Western Balkans (2017–2023) was finalized, thus concluding the strategic approach for rabies elimination in the region.

The project-initiated activities related to Identification and Traceability (ID/Traceability) and Organization of communication campaigns, which are currently in their initial implementation phase. In response to urgent needs arising from confirmed cases of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in neighboring EU countries (Greece and Romania) in August, the Project coordinated with the Chief Veterinary Officers (CVOs) of Serbia, North Macedonia, and Albania to organize an ad-hoc meetings to present and discuss necessary steps to address the immediate risk of PPR to beneficiary countries.

Finally, the project reassessed its implementation and timing schedule for the next six-month period (November 2024 – April 2025). Based on this review, a proposal for a no-cost extension of the project’s duration has been developed to ensure successful achievement of its objectives.

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INTERIM REPORT NO.5

Executive summary

Interim Report No. 5 of the ADEWB II Project covers the reporting period from 1 November 2024 to 30 April 2025. During this period, the Project Team comprising Key Experts (KEs), Senior Non-Key Experts (SNKEs), and Junior Non-Key Experts (JNKEs) continued to implement project activities from the Skopje-based office, through field visits to beneficiary countries, and via remote coordination.

Key progress was achieved in several technical areas, including final, third workshop on EU legislation (A1); finalizing and translating the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for sample collection, packaging, and dispatch (A9.3); developing national procedures for the designation of National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) (A9.1); and enhancing the organization of veterinary competent authorities through targeted follow-up missions and a regional workshop (A.2). These initiatives reinforced alignment with the Official Controls Regulation (EU) 2017/625 and EU laboratory designation standards.

Activities also advanced in Identification and Traceability (A3.1), where country assessments were conducted to review compliance with EU requirements. Project activity on strengthening EU convergent ABP management (A7) was initiated, national experts on ABP were nominated and online meetings held followed by initial orientation missions to beneficiary countries. Public awareness work under A3.2 progressed with the preparation of leaflets, posters, and other public communication tools. Countries were supported in adapting existing materials and developing national strategies, including the adaptation of an African swine fever (ASF) video campaign for regional use.

The Project initiated structured support to prepare EU-convergent surveillance plans (A4) for avian influenza (AI) and Newcastle Disease (ND), including expert recruitment, national consultations, and a regional webinar. A gap analysis methodology and tools were developed and distributed. Additionally, countries were assisted in improving classical swine fever (CSF) and ASF surveillance implementation, and guidance was provided for compiling World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) applications for disease-free status.

Efforts under A11 focused on supporting beneficiary countries in fulfilling requirements regarding trade with EU. Technical support was delivered for selected priority commodities, and guidance documents were prepared or are underway. Initial support was also provided for control procedures aligned with EU export conditions.

Finally, a no-cost extension of the project until 31 December 2025 was granted by the Contracting Authority, enabling full implementation of planned activities. The updated work plan and timelines were presented during the 5th ADEWB II Steering Committee Meeting held in December 2024. The 7th Western Balkan Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) Forum held in cooperation with the “Capacity building of veterinary and plant health services in the Western Balkan” (PHWB) Project enhanced cross-sectoral cooperation between veterinary and plant health authorities, reinforcing the One Health approach across the region.

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INCEPTION REPORT

Date: The 1st PSC meeting held at January 16, 2023, Budva, MN

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