The need for coordinated European action to address disinformation on climate, energy and environmental issues was mentioned by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Dr. Maria Panayiotou, who participated in the Informal Council of Environment Ministers of the European Union, which took place on Tuesday, April 29, in Warsaw, within the framework of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU.
An official announcement states that during the first thematic session of the Informal Council, the Minister stressed the need for coordinated European action to address disinformation on climate, energy and environmental issues. She referred to the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and social networks, while proposing the creation of a single European data hub for evidence-based information. She finally underlined the importance of maintaining freedom of speech and strengthening public debate based on knowledge.
During a working luncheon on environmental innovation as a tool for adapting to climate change, the Minister presented the revised National Adaptation Strategy of Cyprus, referring to a series of technological interventions in the sectors of water, agriculture, forest protection, public health and the coastal zone.
During the second thematic section, which focused on the European Climate Change Risk Assessment (EUCRA) and the European Adaptation Plan (ECAP), the Minister presented the provisions of the Cyprus Strategy, which is based on a national risk assessment and includes 155 adaptation measures. She stressed the importance of cross-sectoral cooperation and the use of geospatial and digital tools, while noting that the upcoming Cyprus Climate Law will explicitly incorporate climate resilience into development and environmental planning.
During her visit to Warsaw, the Minister participated in the working breakfast of the EU Mediterranean States (MED9), organized by Slovenia. The discussion focused on the preparation of the MED9 Ministerial Meeting on Environment and Energy, to be held in June in Slovenia, as well as the draft Joint Ministerial Declaration on Climate Resilience. The Minister welcomed the draft, which had been prepared during the Cyprus Presidency of MED9, and requested EU support with funds and simplified procedures for the protection of rural areas from extreme weather events.
On the sidelines of the Council, the Minister held bilateral meetings. With the Danish Minister for the Environment and Gender Equality, Magnus Heunicke, the promotion of the EU Water Resilience Strategy, the REACH regulation, and the strengthening of Cyprus-Denmark cooperation within the framework of the current Trio Presidency (Poland - Denmark - Cyprus), with an emphasis on climate adaptation and the circular economy, were discussed.
During her meeting with the Executive Director of the European Environment Agency, Ms. Leena Ylä-Mononen, the Minister highlighted the importance of closer Cyprus-EEA cooperation, aiming at strengthening technocratic support and scientific documentation on environmental issues of common interest. Adaptation to climate change, the resilience of water resources and support for the design of European policies were at the heart of the discussion, while the common intention to intensify cooperation was confirmed in view of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2026 and the Informal Council of Environment Ministers to be hosted in Cyprus in February of the same year.
The Minister, who participated in the Informal Council accompanied by the Director of the Department of Environment, Theodoulos Mesimeris, returned to Cyprus today, Wednesday.
Source: KYPE
