The Cyprus EU Presidency aims to deliver a greener, more resilient and more competitive Europe, Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Minister Maria Panayiotou said on Friday in Nicosia, as she presented the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the fields of agriculture, fisheries and the environment.
Asked about Cyprus’ stance on the Mercosur agreement and the future of the Common Agricultural Policy, Panayiotou said Cyprus would act as an honest broker, working towards agreements acceptable to the widest possible majority of EU member states.
Agriculture, fisheries and competitiveness
Presenting the priorities, the minister said agriculture and fisheries fall primarily under the pillar of autonomy through competitiveness, placing agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture at the centre of the Cyprus Presidency agenda.
“Our goal is to strengthen the competitiveness, sustainability and attractiveness of the European agricultural and fisheries sector,” she said, adding that the overarching objective is to promote a fair, competitive and sustainable primary sector.
She outlined four interlinked thematic pillars. These include an agricultural policy that enhances competitiveness, sustainability and the long-term appeal of European farming; an agricultural sector that safeguards European food production, strengthens resilient trade and reduces strategic dependencies on third countries; a single market equipped with simplified and effective tools to address market pressures; and a reinforced Common Fisheries Policy that supports sustainable resources and the long-term prosperity of coastal communities.
Common Agricultural Policy
On the Common Agricultural Policy, Panayiotou said the Presidency supports “a strong CAP and a stable, specific and sustainable future” for the policy. She said greater emphasis would be placed on ensuring fair and stable income for producers and on strengthening farmers’ position within the food supply chain.
Among the Presidency’s priorities, she added, is the promotion of policy discussions aimed at building a sustainable and competitive agricultural sector that guarantees uninterrupted production of quality food in sufficient quantities and at affordable prices for consumers, while reducing dependence on imports and reinforcing the EU’s strategic autonomy.
Trade and market stability
Referring to the dialogue launched on 7 January through an extraordinary political meeting co-organised by the Cyprus Presidency and the European Commission, Panayiotou said efforts would focus on creating conditions for resilient external trade with third countries, based on international trade rules and ensuring a level playing field for European farmers.
She also said the Presidency would promote discussions on the evaluation of legislation on Unfair Trading Practices, the simplification of regulatory frameworks, the strengthening of farmers’ position in the common market supply chain and the early warning of market disruptions.
Environment and climate priorities
On environmental policy, Panayiotou said the agenda is anchored in the European Green Deal and the urgent need to address what she described as the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
She said the Presidency’s work would be advanced through five interconnected thematic areas shaping Europe’s environmental and economic future: water resilience and climate adaptation, climate policy, the circular economy, zero pollution and the bioeconomy strategy.
Simplification of legislation
The minister also highlighted the simplification of environmental legislation as a key objective of the Presidency, stressing that this commitment must be delivered in a timely manner without undermining environmental standards.
Source: CNA