The final Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AgriFish) under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union will take place in Luxembourg today and tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday, 22 and 23 June, with discussions focusing on the future of agriculture, fisheries and food security in the EU.
The Council will be chaired by Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Maria Panayiotou, while Commissioners Costas Kadis, Oliver Várhelyi and Christophe Hansen will participate in the proceedings.
According to a senior EU diplomat, the Council is being held at a time when the agriculture and fisheries sectors are gaining increasing strategic importance for the European Union, as they are directly linked to food security, support for rural and coastal communities, economic growth, and the Union’s resilience in the face of geopolitical and climate-related challenges.
The official noted that over the past six months, the Cyprus Presidency has focused on advancing measures aimed at providing greater predictability and stability for farmers and fishing communities, while ensuring that EU policies remain responsive to current challenges, including geopolitical uncertainty, the effects of climate change and rising production costs.
The first day of the Council will be dedicated mainly to fisheries, with ministers expected to exchange views on the state of fish stocks and fleet capacity as part of preparations for fishing opportunities in 2027.
Ministers will also discuss the evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy and its future direction. The exchange of views will focus on the effectiveness of existing instruments, as well as issues such as simplification, fleet modernisation, generational renewal, the energy transition, the development of aquaculture and the competitiveness of the sector.
In parallel, according to the official, the possibility of adopting a partial general approach on the proposal for the future of EU support for fisheries, aquaculture and maritime policy for the 2028–2034 period is also being considered.
The second day of the Council will be devoted to agriculture, with ministers expected to examine the situation of agricultural markets in light of the continuing effects of the war in Ukraine, geopolitical developments, climate pressures and challenges related to animal health.
Particular attention is expected to be paid to developments in the dairy sector, as well as the impact of extreme weather events on the production of fruit, vegetables and cereals.
According to the senior EU diplomat, Member States are also expected to seek clarifications regarding the use of the agricultural reserve, ahead of a European Commission proposal to mobilise €540 million.
The agenda also includes a policy debate on the future of the CAP beyond 2027, with a focus on flexibility, subsidiarity and maintaining common European objectives.
As the EU official noted, the Cyprus Presidency sought to incorporate into the relevant legislative texts the requests of Member States for a fairer, more competitive, resilient and sustainable agricultural sector, while preserving a level playing field and the common character of the European market.
(Source: CNA)
