The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) must continue to be the main pillar of support for agricultural income after 2027, ensuring European and global food security, stated the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Maria Panayiotou.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ms. Panayiotou was speaking during the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, on Monday, in Brussels, which dealt with the proposal for the CAP after 2027, trade-related agricultural issues, and fishing opportunities in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, in the Atlantic and the North Sea, in the coming years.
In her intervention, it is reported, "Dr. Panayiotou noted that the CAP must, even after 2027, continue to be the main pillar of support for agricultural income, ensuring European and global food security."
Support under the CAP should include all farmers, regardless of employment or age, and take into account the specificities of Member States, he added.
The Minister noted that extreme weather conditions and increasing pressure on natural resources make uninterrupted food production uncertain.
To address these challenges, he added, we have already put in place state mechanisms to create strategic reserves of grains intended for animal feed and human consumption, strengthening the resilience of the agri-food system against potential crises and market disruptions. These mechanisms operate with full respect for the terms of market competition, he stressed.
The "27" then discussed trade-related agricultural issues and recent developments. In this context, the Minister pointed out that in an international environment characterized by geopolitical instability, intensifying economic competition and frequent disruptions in supply chains, the Primary Production Sector constitutes the core of trade agreements with Third Countries, highlighting its strategic importance for the European economy.
In this regard, he supported the Commission's efforts to promote agreements that ensure mutual benefit, respecting the rules of the World Trade Organization. In order to preserve fair competition for European producers and to ensure the health of European consumers, we consider that agricultural products imported into the EU must respect European production standards and environmentally friendly agricultural practices, he noted.
Ministers exchanged views on the Council Regulation fixing fishing opportunities in the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea for 2026, and fishing opportunities in the Atlantic and the North Sea for the years 2026, 2027 and 2028.
Ms. Panayiotou pointed out the challenges that Cyprus continues to face in the Eastern Mediterranean, with the continuous obstruction of the activities of Cypriot fishermen by the Turkish authorities in violation of the rules of international law, noting that "our fishermen operate under difficult conditions, both in international waters and within our Exclusive Economic Zone."
At the same time, he underlined the importance of a fair distribution of fishing opportunities, with full protection of the EU's share and fair treatment of all Member States. Cyprus, he added, remains committed to the sustainable management of fisheries resources, and will contribute constructively to the discussions to achieve a balanced and fair agreement, for the benefit of both fishing communities and the protection of our marine resources.
On the sidelines of the Council's work, Ms. Panayiotou had bilateral meetings with the German Minister of Food and Agriculture, Alois Rainer, the French Minister of Agriculture, Agri-Food and Food Sovereignty, Annie Genevard, and the MEP and member of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Parliament, Herbert Dorfmann, during which issues of mutual interest were discussed in view of the Cyprus Presidency.
He also met with the British Minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds, where European and bilateral issues were discussed.
Source: KYPE
