Press Releases

The problems of Cyprus agriculture sector caused by the water scarcity were raised by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Mr Costas Kadis, at the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council that took place in Luxembourg on June 18, 2018. Minister Kadis by presenting concrete evidence demonstrated the serious problems caused in agriculture in Cyprus and requested support by the EU counterparts and the European Commission in order for solutions and means of support for farmers in Cyprus to be found.

Mr Kadis presented the severe situation of the Cypriot agriculture caused not only by the prolonged drought and the low water flow in the dams, but also by the increased occurrence of extreme weather conditions as a consequence of climate change.  In particular, Mr Kadis noted that three times during the last four years the precipitation total amounts have reached the minimum level of the decade.

The Agriculture Minister also referred to the ongoing efforts to address the water shortage in Cyprus, which, however, due to the unfavorable climatic conditions, have not solve the problem entirely; thus, creating serious problems in the exercise of the agricultural activity in Cyprus, with all due consequences.

Mr Kadis informed his counterparts that Cyprus is preparing a request for assistance by the EU Solidarity Fund and asked for support from member states and the European Commission to tackle the problem in order to overcome the difficulties and avoid abandoning of agriculture activity.

Furthermore, recognizing the aims and aspirations of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Minister Kadis called on the European Commission in the light of the new CAP framework, to propose solutions and means of support for Cyprus’ farmers and to tackle water scarcity, which is a highly difficult environmental challenge and requires collective cooperation and solidarity at a European level.

In their interventions during the workings of the Council, EU Agricultures Ministers expressed understanding and solidarity to Cyprus; a position that was also expressed during the tête-à-têtes meetings Mr Kadis held with his counterparts.

The Ministers also exchanged views on the post 2020 CAP reform, focusing on its funding and management.  In this context, fifteen member states, including Cyprus, co-signed a memorandum submitted by France on the importance of the CAP for the EU economy and its peoples. The memorandum highlights, among other things, the need to meet new challenges and to maintain the competitiveness and social role of agriculture and calls for an increase in the CAP budget, to the same levels of aid of 2014-2020 period.

On Fisheries, Ministers exchanged views on the Commission's proposal to establish a European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) for the future programming period 2021-2027.  The Fund aims to allocate funding from the Union budget to support the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).  They also exchanged views on the proposal for a Regulation on fisheries controls aiming at the modernization of the fisheries control system in order to ensure the correct implementation of the CFP. Finally, on Fisheries, the Commission Communication on the state of play of the CFP and the consultation on the Fishing Opportunities for 2019 were presented.

 (MAK/ML)