Agricultural community in Cyprus requests adaptable financial assistance from the European Union due to persistent droughts impacting crop production
In a recent meeting at the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Cyprus' Minister of Agriculture, Maria Panayiotou, emphasized the need for additional financial support measures beyond the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to help farmers cope with the severe impact of a third consecutive year of drought.
Panayiotou's call for action comes as the drought has taken a toll on all crops, putting the viability of agriculture at serious risk. Some key production sectors have reported losses of up to 100%, according to the minister.
The minister advocated for flexible support schemes and new funding tools outside the existing CAP framework. She also proposed targeted investments in protein production initiatives as a means to reduce reliance on imports and ensure sustainability.
Panayiotou further stressed the importance of trade diversification to avoid new dependencies on third countries. She suggested that the EU should invest in initiatives that cover the full spectrum of protein utilization.
While other EU ministers like Spain's Luis Planas emphasize the importance of adequate CAP funding itself, Cyprus is pushing for extra-budgetary, flexible financial tools designed to respond quickly and robustly to emergent crises like severe droughts.
During the meeting, Panayiotou held a bilateral meeting with Ireland's Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, Martin Heydon, to further strengthen cooperation in agriculture. Heydon invited Panayiotou to Ireland for continued discussions on these matters.
In summary, the key additional financial support measures proposed by Cyprus’ Minister Maria Panayiotou include flexible support schemes beyond CAP's current regulatory framework, additional financial instruments or funding tools not limited to CAP budgets, targeted investments in protein production to enhance food security, and efforts to diversify trade to avoid dependency on external suppliers for critical feed inputs.
These measures aim to bolster EU farmers’ resilience against climate-induced shocks beyond what the current CAP structure provides. The discussions are set to continue as the EU prepares for the consecutive Council Presidencies of Cyprus and Ireland in 2026.
The minister of Cyprus, Maria Panayiotou, advocated for flexible support schemes and new funding tools outside the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) framework, as a response to the severe impact of drought on agriculture. She also proposed targeted investments in protein production and trade diversification, aiming to reduce dependencies on external suppliers and ensure sustainability. During the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting, Panayiotou discussed these proposals with Ireland's Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, Martin Heydon, emphasizing the need for extra-budgetary, flexible financial tools to respond quickly to emergent crises.
