Trade in agricultural products, the future of agriculture and the Forest Regulation were discussed by the Ministers. of EU Agriculture – What the Minister of Agriculture said at the work of the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries of the European Union held in Brussels
The Minister of Agriculture, of Rural Development and Environment Dr. Maria Panagiotou participated in the work of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council of the European Union (EU), which took place on Tuesday January 23 in Brussels.
The Council dealt with trade of agricultural products, the debate on the Strategy for the future of agriculture in Europe and the proposal for a Regulation establishing the monitoring framework for resilient European forests.
Regarding trade, Ministers discussed the future development of EU trade relations as well as EU trade with Ukraine. Dr Panagiotou advocated for ensuring seamless, fair and rules-based food trade, which promotes the EU's goals for food security, tackling climate change and sustainable development. The Minister also mentioned thatdue to the current geopolitical situation, efforts to strengthen the sustainability of food systems should be intensified. He also reiterated Cyprus' solidarity with Ukraine and supported the EU's efforts to unimpeded food exports to areas in need.
Regarding the dialogue on the strategy< /strong> for the future of European agriculture, the Minister emphasized the importance of security and stability, enhancing competitiveness and uninterrupted food production. Dr. Panagiotou noted that the strengthening of support for farmers and rural areas should be reflected in all EU policies, beyond the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), taking into account the particularities of the member states. The Minister, welcoming the start of the Strategic Dialogue on Agriculture, emphasized the need to formulate political directions, through a thorough discussion with all those affected.
Regarding proposal for a Regulation to establish the monitoring framework for resilient European forests, Dr. Panagiotou noted that the creation of the proposed monitoring system will contribute to strengthening the resilience of forests and to a better response to the ever-increasing pressures on forests. p>
The Minister also supported Portugal's initiative to strengthen the resilience of water resources and water availability, considering that this will help to address the effects of climate change.
Finally, with a joint document Austria, France and Italy raised the need to preserve primary food production, citing their concerns in relation to the artificial production of meat in the laboratory. Dr. Panagiotou, providing support for the document, called on the European Commission to take these concerns seriously, with a view to protecting the environment and agricultural production in the EU, consumer health and ensuring the quality and safety of food.
