The pressures on agricultural sector in Cyprus and in the rest of the EU, the co-financing of phytosanitary and veterinary programmes in the EU and issues relating to sustainable tuna fishing were discussed by Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis during the Agriculture and Fisheries Council of the European Union that took place in Luxembourg on Monday.
According to a press release, the discussion was mostly focused on the situation in agricultural markets and the challenges European farmers are faced with.
The EU’s Agriculture Ministers referred in particular to the continuing rise in production costs, especially due to the rising costs of energy, fertilisers and pesticides as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
As regards to fertilisers, the ministers agreed that additional measures to support their production and availability in the EU are necessary and invited the Commission to present proposals in this respect.
In his intervention, Kadis referred to the increase in production costs for Cypriot farmers as well as to the increase in food prices, which affects both producers and consumers.
Kadis presented the measures taken by the Cypriot government to support farmers, noting that Cyprus was one of the few countries that used all the relevant tools decided at European level.
The Agriculture Minister also stressed the need to take further immediate measures to support producers, recalling that Cyprus is fully dependent on imports to meet its needs in essential items for agriculture, mainly fertilisers.
Cyprus also expressed its support, along with another 20 member states, to a proposal by Austria and Hungary that the EU not impose restrictions on the co-financing of phytosanitary and veterinary programmes in the EU.
During his intervention, Kadis called on the Commission to ensure adequate funding for these programmes as they make a key contribution to the fight against animal diseases and pests.
Among other issues, the ministers prepared the EU’s participation in the annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), which will take place on 14-21 November.
Speaking on the issue, Kadis said that Cyprus is in favour of ensuring sustainability and supported the adoption of a careful approach which ensures the conservation of other sensitive species and preserves biodiversity.
Kadis also referred to the issue of Turkey’s unilateral setting of a quota for long-finned tuna outside the framework of the ICCAT agreement. This action, he added, jeopardises the sustainability of the species and undermines the efforts of the Cypriot and European fleets. Kadis called for the European Commission’s assistance to ensure that the country respects what has been agreed.
Finally, Cyprus supported a joint initiative of France and Germany to end the systematic killing of male chicks in the EU, as well as an initiative of Finland regarding the importance of close cooperation between the Commission and Member States in the preparation of the EU framework for forest monitoring and strategic plans on forests.
Source: Cyprus News Agency