Brussels: Cyprus’ Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Dr. Maria Panayiotou, has urged for bolstered support for both the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) during her public interventions at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council held in Brussels. Emphasizing the need for realism, increased funding, and flexibility, Panayiotou highlighted the importance of safeguarding the future of farmers and fishers amid mounting challenges.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Minister delineated Cyprus’ positions on two critical issues: the inadequate resources allocated to the Common Fisheries Policy and the urgent requirement to fortify the CAP in a time marked by multiple crises. She stressed that there could be no concessions on funding, income support, or crisis management, warning against decisions that ignore local particularities or jeopardize the long-term viability of the agricultural and fisheries sectors. This stance gains urgency given that 57% of European farmers are over 55 years old, while the sector faces climate, economic, and geopolitical pressures. “The CAP is not negotiable,” she stated, while also advocating for transparency, balance, and timely implementation of new fisheries regulations.
On the topic of fisheries and the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), Panayiotou pointed out the inadequacy of current funding, asserting the need for clear allocation criteria, including methodology and minimum budget guarantees for the CFP. She advocated for a framework that is flexible, realistic, and balanced. “We need an effective, efficient, and adaptable system-not just a proposal that leaves critical gaps,” she added. The Minister emphasized the importance of concluding negotiations swiftly to ensure new rules take effect at the start of the next programming period. She also sought further clarifications on the distribution of funds through the Fisheries Control and Data Collection Facility.
Addressing the CAP, Panayiotou reiterated its indispensable role, emphasizing the need to preserve its fundamental elements, including income support for farmers and crisis management tools. “Our farmers must receive a clear message: we will not leave them exposed,” she said. She argued that the CAP budget must reflect agriculture’s multifaceted nature, particularly as farmers confront rising production costs, severe weather events, and international policy disruptions.
Panayiotou also highlighted the issue of national co-financing, warning that it should not exacerbate inequalities among member states. Her focus extended to strengthening crisis management mechanisms, advocating for more immediate, flexible, and effective interventions. She cautioned against policy tools that fail to account for local needs, citing concerns over the proposed exclusion of retired farmers from support after 2032.
In her closing remarks, Panayiotou emphasized that decisions affecting the agricultural sector must remain in the hands of those confronting its local realities and needs. She expressed gratitude to the Danish Presidency for its management of the process and reaffirmed Cyprus’ commitment to securing a sustainable future for Europe’s farmers and fishers.