Luxembourg: The final Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AgriFish) under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union is set to convene next Monday and Tuesday in Luxembourg. The discussions will center on the future of agriculture, fisheries, and food security within the EU framework.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Council will be chaired by Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Maria Panayiotou and will include participation from Commissioners Costas Kadis, Oliver V¡rhelyi, and Christophe Hansen. The Council is being held at a time when the agriculture and fisheries sectors are increasingly significant for the European Union, as they are directly tied to food security, support for rural and coastal communities, economic growth, and the Union's resilience against geopolitical and climate-related challenges.
A senior EU diplomat highlighted that the Cyprus Presidency has been focused on advancing measures to provide greater predictability and stability for farmers and fishing communities over the past six months. The goal has been to ensure that EU policies remain responsive to current challenges, including geopolitical uncertainty, climate change, and rising production costs.
The first day of the Council will primarily address fisheries. Ministers are expected to discuss the state of fish stocks and fleet capacity to prepare for fishing opportunities in 2027. Discussions will include evaluating the Common Fisheries Policy and its future direction, focusing on the effectiveness of existing instruments and issues like simplification, fleet modernisation, generational renewal, energy transition, aquaculture development, and sector competitiveness.
In parallel, the possibility of adopting a partial general approach on the future of EU support for fisheries, aquaculture, and maritime policy for the 2028-2034 period is also being considered.
The second day will focus on agriculture, with ministers examining the state of agricultural markets amid the ongoing effects of the war in Ukraine, geopolitical developments, climate pressures, and challenges related to animal health. Attention will be directed towards developments in the dairy sector and the impact of extreme weather events on fruit, vegetable, and cereal production.
Member States are expected to seek clarifications on the use of the agricultural reserve, prior to a European Commission proposal to mobilise £540 million. The agenda will also include a policy debate on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) beyond 2027, focusing on flexibility, subsidiarity, and maintaining common European objectives.
As noted by the EU official, the Cyprus Presidency has worked to integrate Member States' requests into legislative texts, aiming for a fairer, more competitive, resilient, and sustainable agricultural sector while preserving a level playing field and the common character of the European market.