Brussels: The priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU in the field of agriculture were presented on Wednesday by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou, before the European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI). Panayiotou outlined the political context, the challenges, and the ambitions for the next six months, stressing the Presidency's strong political commitment to sustainable agriculture, innovation, and the uptake of new technologies. According to Cyprus News Agency, in her opening remarks, the Minister underlined the particular symbolism of her presence before the AGRI Committee, just days after the first Agriculture Council meeting held under the Cyprus Presidency. Panayiotou referred extensively to Cyprus's geopolitical and environmental particularities, linking them to broader European challenges. She emphasized Cyprus's position as an island member state at the southeastern border of the Union in the Medite rranean, shaped by geopolitical tensions yet committed to peace, cooperation, and shared prosperity. Panayiotou highlighted that Cyprus has the second smallest agricultural sector in the Union, primarily based on family farming with strong demographic and environmental characteristics. She pointed out the challenges of an aging farming population and environmental issues such as high temperatures and severe droughts that exacerbate water scarcity and climate vulnerability. The Minister made clear that the Cyprus Presidency approaches its mandate with a strong political commitment to sustainable agriculture, innovation, and the uptake of new technologies, supported by targeted funding for a resilient agri-food sector. She emphasized the importance of delivering tangible results for farmers and rural areas, strengthening food security, and enhancing competitiveness and sustainability in light of global tensions and the war in Ukraine. Panayiotou also acknowledged the work of previous Presidencies, notably ex pressing appreciation for the Danish Presidency's contributions, which provide a solid basis for the Cyprus Presidency's efforts. A key focus of the Minister's intervention was the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the negotiations concerning the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). She stressed the importance of adequate funding for the CAP and the need for a balanced and constructive discussion to support, stabilize, and provide visibility for agricultural policy. She highlighted the progress on legislative files such as the wine package and measures against unfair trading practices, aiming to strengthen farmers' negotiating power and ensure a fairer agri-food supply chain. Organic farming was identified as a strategic priority, with a focus on legislative improvements to enhance clarity and reduce complexity for producers. On animal welfare, Panayiotou emphasized aligning import standards to ensure competitiveness and resilience in the European livestock sector. She also discussed the critical role of research and technology in enhancing productivity, sustainability, and climate resilience, advocating for tools like precision agriculture, artificial intelligence, and drones. Concluding her presentation, Panayiotou acknowledged the challenges of reform but reiterated the Cyprus Presidency's commitment to collaboration with the European Parliament to ensure farmers' and rural communities' voices are central to European policies.