TIRANA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Albanian government hasformally submitted its application to the European Commission toobtain a fund worth 71 million euros (79.21 million U.S. dollars)under IPARD 2014-2020 program, the Ministry of Finance announcedTuesday.

If approved, the Albanian government will use the fund tosupport the country's agriculture sector, according to theministry.

The managing authorities in the ministries of finance andagriculture have submitted to the European Commission the requestto be entrusted with budget implementation tasks for IPARD2014-2020.

The program aims at supporting farmers, agricultural andagro-processing enterprises as well as subjects planning to carryout investments for production and processing in the dairy sector,meat, fruit and vegetables, protected plants and vineyards,according to the ministry.

The program also aims at supporting investments in aquaculture,natural and rural tourism and renewable energy production.

The Albanian government also plans to support approximately2,055 investment projects via the fund.

The implementation of this program is projected to begin in 2017while it is expected to create about 800 jobs.

In June, the European Union(EU) ambassador in Albania RomanaVlahutin announced that Albania would be entrusted with themanagement of 71 million euros from the bloc destined foragricultural and rural development.

The EU ambassador urged the Albanian authorities to show thatthey were ready to manage EU funds, warning that the EuropeanCommission has a very strict procedure which allows it to get themoney back if it is not properly managed.

Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance in Rural Development(IPARD) is an instrument applied by the EU to assist candidatecountries to develop their agriculture sector. Enditem