Luxembourg: Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou, attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting in Luxembourg on October 27 and 28, 2025. During the discussions, she highlighted the critical challenges facing Cyprus’ agriculture sector due to an ongoing drought and called for EU funding to aid affected farmers. Panayiotou also emphasized the need to consider realistic approaches while implementing the EU’s generational renewal plan in agriculture, tailored to the unique requirements of each member state.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Ministry of Agriculture announced that the meeting involved an orientation discussion among the 27 member states regarding the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post-2027, focusing on the green architecture. The discussion aimed to evaluate the appeal of the new architecture to motivate farmers to engage in climate and environmental goals.
In her address, Panayiotou strongly advocated for a competitive agricultural sector prioritizing environmental protection, acknowledging this as a significant challenge for the new CAP. She stressed the necessity of adequate incentives and sufficient funding for farmers to meet the ambitious objectives of the green architecture. Additionally, she highlighted opportunities for farmers to boost their income through bioeconomy and circular economy initiatives.
During discussions on the market situation, Panayiotou detailed the severe impact of drought on Cypriot agriculture, affecting all food production sectors. She underscored Cyprus’ appeal for EU financial support, emphasizing the need to assist impacted farmers.
The Ministers received a briefing from Taras Kachka, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, about the food production status in Ukraine. Panayiotou reiterated Cyprus’ support for Ukraine’s efforts to align its products with EU standards, emphasizing the need for technical assistance to achieve this. She also stressed the importance of free and fair trade to ensure food security and fair competition among producers.
Furthermore, the Ministers discussed the EU’s stance ahead of the upcoming International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) session in Seville. Panayiotou expressed full support for the Commission’s commitment to protecting EU interests, particularly concerning bluefin tuna quotas. She stressed the need for fair treatment and equal competition among member states and third countries, while also addressing the harassment of the Cypriot fishing fleet by Turkey.
The European Commission introduced the Strategy for Generational Renewal in Agriculture, aiming to support young farmers and reduce the demographic gap. Panayiotou welcomed this initiative and stressed the importance of practical implementation considering each member state’s specific needs. She emphasized the need for realistic timelines to achieve tangible results.
On the sidelines of the Council meeting, Panayiotou engaged in bilateral discussions with Polish Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Stefan Krajewski, Slovak Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Richard Tak¡c, and Austrian Federal Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Climate Protection, Environment, Regions, and Water Management, Norbert Totschnig. These meetings focused on issues of mutual interest in anticipation of the Cypriot Presidency.