The aim is for the European Union’s policies to be able to adequately respond to the needs of farmers and ensure their resilience and competitiveness, said Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Maria Panayiotou, who participated in the informal meeting of EU Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers, held in Copenhagen between 7-9 September.
Arriving at the meeting, Panayiotou noted that this was the last Informal meeting of Agriculture Ministers under the Danish Presidency and before the Cyprus Presidency, and therefore has a special significance for us”. “That is why we are using it for a series of bilateral meetings with both members of the European Parliament and with representatives of agricultural organisations and my counterparts”, she added.
According to Panayiotou, the meeting focuses on ensuring the competitiveness of farmers and accelerating the green transition.
She noted that what the Republic of Cyprus proposes, as its own positions, is, firstly, to have financial tools, an adequate financial framework for farmers, which allows them to respond to the crises they have to face. “Crises, which can either come from market developments, or from geopolitical conditions, or from extreme weather phenomena. Essentially, to have a financial framework that allows them to turn challenges into opportunities,” she noted.
“The second thing we are asking for is that there are enough incentives, financial incentives, at the disposal of farmers so that they can respond to the green transition,” she added.
“The third, very important thing for us, which we are raising in today's intervention, is the strengthening of cooperation between innovation producers, farmers and state services,” she said, noting that the key to all of this is the simplification and acceleration of procedures.
“Therefore, our goal is for European Union policies to be able to adequately respond to the needs of farmers and ensure the resilience and competitiveness of European farmers,” the Minister said.
Moreover, according to a statement by the Ministry, Panayiotou, during her intervention in the Council on improving competitiveness and accelerating the green transition of the EU agri-food sector, noted that we must turn challenges into opportunities. “She highlighted the importance of developing a simpler and friendlier regulatory framework, so that farmers can benefit from a clear and user-friendly support toolbox through the CAP,” it said. She reiterated Cyprus’ commitment to a common European agricultural policy with adequate financial support, which creates real opportunities for farmers, so that they can in turn contribute to the green transition and resilience of the food sector, it adds.
It is noted that on the sidelines of the meeting, the Minister held bilateral meetings with MEP Norbert Lins, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Parliament, and Agnieszka Walter-Drop, Director-General for Cohesion, Agriculture and Social Policies of the European Parliament. She also met with the leadership of COPA COGECA, COPA President Massimiliano Giansanti, COGECA President Lennart Nilsson and Secretary General Elli Tsiforou. According to the statement, her discussions focused on the new CAP 2028–2034, the proposal for a Regulation on the protection of animals during transport, the Multiannual Financial Framework and developments in agri-food trade, while there was an exchange of views on the priorities of the upcoming Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU.
According to the announcement, during the official dinner on Monday evening, the Danish Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries presented the priorities of the Danish Presidency, while the EU Commissioner for Agriculture referred to the European Commission’s objectives for the agricultural sector. The floor was then given to Panayiotou, as Agriculture Minister of the upcoming EU Presidency.
In her speech, it said, Dr. Panayiotou congratulated the Danish Presidency for the excellent organisation and hospitality and praised their good cooperation within the framework of the Denmark-Poland-Cyprus tripartite format. “Three different regions of Europe – Northern, Central and Mediterranean – three different experiences and strengths, but a common commitment. A mix that is a recipe for balance and effectiveness,” she said. Panayiotou invited her counterparts to Cyprus in May 2026, when the next informal meeting of Ministers of Agriculture will be held.
(Source: CNA)
