Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis participated in a discussion during the Agriculture and Fisheries Council of the European Union held in Brussels on Monday, which focused on the European Commission’s Proposal for reducing the use of chemical pesticides and the sustainable use of alternatives, according to a statement.
Also, during a discussion on the situation in Ukraine, Kadis said that Cyprus is ready to give the European Commission access to the grain storage silo in the port of Limassol, but also to participate in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, given that Turkey’s opposition is overcome.
During the discussion on pesticides, Kadis agreed with the general philosophy of the Commission’s proposals and stressed the need to give flexibility to Member States regarding the use of plant protection products, based on the specificities and circumstances of each country.
He also stressed that, in parallel to reducing the use of pesticides, measures should be taken to safeguard satisfactory food production in the EU and the sustainability of agriculture.
Other issues on the ministers’ agenda included the situation of agricultural production in Ukraine, the agricultural aspects of the Industrial Emissions Directive and the issue of food labelling.
During the discussion on the situation in Ukraine, Ukrainian Minister of Agricultural Policy Mykola Solsky presented the challenges facing agricultural production and supply chains in the country.
In his intervention, Kadis referred to the importance of food production and exports from Ukraine, especially for states whose food security depends on imports.
Kadis also expressed Cyprus’ readiness, if necessary, to make available to the European Commission the grain storage silos at the port of Limassol. He also stressed that Cypriot shipping is ready to actively participate in the Black Sea Grain Initiative and asked the European Commission to make the appropriate representations to Turkey to allow Cyprus to contribute.
During his intervention, Kadis also referred to the difficult economic situation of farmers in Cyprus, stressing that the uncontrolled increase in energy, feed and fertilizer prices further exacerbate the problems.
On the sidelines of the Council, the Agriculture Minister met with the Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, with whom they discussed the Commission’s proposals on food labelling and the rational use of plant protection products.
On Tuesday, Kadis participated in the high-level ministerial meeting on African Swine Fever, organised at the initiative of Commissioner Kyriakides.
Source: Cyprus News Agency