Brussels: Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Maria Panayiotou has announced plans to meet with European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, Oliver Varhelyi, during the Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AgriFish) session in Brussels. This meeting comes in response to the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Cyprus.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Panayiotou confirmed on Monday morning that a team from the European Commission's Directorate-General for Health (DG SANTE) has already been requested to address the outbreak. She emphasized the necessity for rapid and immediate coordination to safeguard livestock farmers and maintain agricultural production. The Minister underscored the importance of collaboration with the European Commission to ensure effective measures are implemented swiftly.
Panayiotou also highlighted the broader agenda of the second AgriFish Council under the Cyprus Presidency, which includes strengthening Europe's resilience and strategic autonomy. She stressed that food security is central to this vision, with the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post-2027 being a focal point of discussion. The Minister hailed the CAP as a key success story of European integration, vital for supporting farmers and rural communities.
In discussing the new architecture for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), she noted the shared responsibility among Agriculture Ministers to ensure that it provides adequate and stable support for farmers, fostering an innovative and resilient primary sector. Panayiotou mentioned that the focus is on national recommendations for the CAP, fair treatment of farmers in the food supply chain, and the strategic importance of global food security within the framework of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
When questioned about the European Court of Auditors' report on the new CAP architecture's complexity, Panayiotou highlighted the need for closer cooperation with farmers' organizations. She advocated for integrated processes to create a balanced and strong CAP that aligns with the desires of Member States while fostering a bridge between the EU Commission and its Member States.