The threat of drought to the primary production sector will be at the center of the discussions, in the context of the Summit of the Ministers of Agriculture of the Mediterranean Member States of the EU MED9 starting in Cyprus, specifically in Ayia Napa, on Sunday.
The work of the Synod will culminate and be completed on Tuesday with the issuance of a joint statement by the Ministers, which will be submitted to the upcoming Council of Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries of the EU.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the aim of the Synod is to work together to create a sustainable agricultural sector, resistant to extreme weather conditions and drought caused by climate change, as well as integrated and sustainable water management in the Mediterranean.
The Synod, which will be held with the participation of the Ministers of Agriculture of Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Malta, Portugal and Slovenia, is hosted in the province of Famagusta by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment of the Republic of Cyprus, as the presiding country of the MED9 informal cooperation for the year 2024. It is the first coordinating working meeting of Ministers of Agriculture of the nine Mediterranean EU member states.
The main tasks of the Ministerial Meeting , with the theme “The threat of drought in the primary production sector in the Mediterranean Member States”, will be held on Tuesday, September 3, in the morning, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment of Cyprus, Maria Panagiotou. The European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Janusz Wojciechowski, will also participate in the work of the Synod.
After the end of the work of the Summit, a joint statement of the Ministers will be issued, which will be submitted to the upcoming Council of Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries of the EU, while at the same time a joint press conference will be held at 12.30 pm.
The Synod will be preceded on Monday, September 2, by thematic visits of the Delegations of the member states to agricultural facilities for hydroponic production and to state infrastructures related to wider water management.
On the same day, the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment will have a bilateral meeting with the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, while the two officials will then meet with representatives of agricultural organizations.
On the occasion of the presence of the European Ministers on the island, there will also be a signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between Malta, Greece and Cyprus by the relevant Ministers.
