Farmers with small land make up over 85% of the beneficiaries of Common Agricultural Policy subsidies in Cyprus, noted the Minister of Agriculture Maria Panagiotou in an intervention during the work of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AGRIFISH) held in Brussels on Tuesday to address the situation in the agricultural sector.
Mrs. Panagiotou, according to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, expressed her satisfaction with the Commission's proposal for flexibility in the implementation of controls concerning farmers with small plots of land, as well as with the proposals to strengthen the position of farmers in the agri-food chain, such as the creation of a European observatory on production costs, profit margins and trade practices.
The above, however, added the Minister of Agriculture, cannot bring about the desired result without the further support of farmers.
Tuesday's AGRIFISH Council welcomed its recent proposals Commission for simplifying provisions of the Common Agricultural Policy and reducing the administrative burden, which are expected to be approved in April.
Ministers also discussed the state of agricultural markets and the challenges facing farmers due to climate change, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
In the context of the discussion, Mrs. Panagiotou emphasized that the current situation increases the insecurity of farmers, noting that in Cyprus the problems have increased due to the ongoing drought. He agreed with the proposal of other member states to extend the temporary crisis framework for financial support for farmers and called on the Commission to proceed with more support measures.
As regards fisheries issues, Cyprus supported Portugal's initiative to continue emergency support to fishermen for the period 2023 and 2024, through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021 – 2027.
It is noted that the Council approved without discussion, the new Regulation on Geographical Indications and quality systems.
The provisions of the new Regulation, in fact they extend until 2029, instead of July 2024, the possibility of determining the proportion of milk used to make halloumi, it is added.
The Regulation is expected to be published in the Journal of the European Union within April with the possibility of implementation for the member states within twenty days of its publication.
