The need to increase the CAP due to climate change is emphasized in an interview by the outgoing European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janus Wojciechowski
The budget of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) should be increased in the future, focusing in particular on climate change, said the outgoing European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janus Wojciechowski, in a written interview with the Sunday newspaper “H Kathimerini”.
Speaking ahead of his visit to Cyprus for the MED9 Summit , Mr. Wojciechowski also noted that he will meet with Cypriot farmers, while he stated that he believes in the prospects of PDO halloumi due to the support provided by Cyprus' national plan for the CAP.
< p>“The recent certification of halloumi offers great opportunities to Cypriot producers. I am sure that the producers in both communities of the island can benefit”, he said.
He also pointed out that the green transition and rural development are not opposite concepts, pointing out that already 32% of the expenses it concerns programs that benefit both farmers and the environment.
He noted, moreover, that despite the objections, the EU agri-food sector benefits from international trade, even in small countries like Cyprus, making special reference to Cypriot initiatives to promote products from the country worldwide through the EU.
At the same time, he mentioned that the new CAP for after 2027 is likely to be submitted in the second half of 2025, which makes it the responsibility of the new College of Commissioners.
“Therefore, we must continue our efforts to implement the CAP 2023 – 2027. However, we need to learn lessons from our experiences in recent years,” he said.
He added that the strategic dialogue on the future of agriculture in the EU, led by Professor Peter Strohschneider, is part of this of the process.
'Although the proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework will be presented next year, my personal view is that the CAP budget should be strengthened, especially the crisis reserve. Climate change is a reality and our farmers are on the front lines”, he noted.
He also mentioned that he knows that the farmers of Cyprus have faced these effects first hand.
The CAP, he said, includes a strong package of tools that can be supplemented by national funds.
He added that CAP can support investments to improve existing irrigation infrastructure and new facilities. Seventeen member states, including Cyprus, support such investments in their CAP strategic plans, he said.
