Cyprus calls for EU support at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council

The Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment of Cyprus, Christos Senekis, is attending the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council held on September 29-30 in Brussels. Under the Irish Presidency, the meeting focuses on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) beyond 2027, the state of agricultural markets, and challenges currently facing the sector.

During his visit, Minister Senekis has requested coordinated EU support to address soaring energy and fertilizer costs. He emphasized that farmers are dealing with significant pressures, including climate change, production cost hikes, and animal diseases. Specifically, the Cypriot delegation is pushing for immediate European Commission measures to combat animal health issues, with the Minister scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with the European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, Olivér Várhelyi, to discuss the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease situation in Cyprus.

Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, who is chairing the Council, noted that member states generally agree on the need for a well-funded CAP to support food production, farmer incomes, and environmental protection. Minister Senekis is expected to return to Cyprus on Wednesday, September 30.