Press Releases

The threat of drought to the primary production sector in the Mediterranean Member States at the centre of discussions 

The Ministers of Agriculture of the Mediterranean EU Member States (MED9) are meeting in Cyprus from Sunday, 1 September, to Tuesday, 3 September, with the aim of working together to create a sustainable agricultural sector, resilient to the extreme weather conditions and drought caused by climate change, as well as the integrated and sustainable water management in the Mediterranean. 

The meeting, which will be attended by the Ministers of Agriculture of the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of France, the Hellenic Republic, the Republic of Italy, the Kingdom of Spain, the Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Malta, the Portuguese Republic and the Republic of Slovenia, is hosted in the Ammochostos district by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment of the Republic of Cyprus as the Chair of the Informal MED9 Cooperation for the year 2024. It is the first coordinating working meeting of Ministers of Agriculture of the nine Mediterranean EU Member States. 

The main proceedings of the Ministerial Meeting on "The Drought Threat to the Primary Production Sector in the Mediterranean Member States" will take place on Tuesday, 3 September, in the morning, chaired by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment of the Republic of Cyprus, Dr Maria Panayiotou. The European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Janusz Wojciechowski, will also participate. 

A joint ministerial statement will be issued at the end of the meeting, which will be submitted to the forthcoming Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers, and a joint press conference will be held at the same time. 

On Monday, 2 September, delegations of the MED9 member states will visit agricultural holdings - hydroponic production facilities and governmental infrastructures related to wider water management. 

On the same day, the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, Dr Maria Panayiotou, will hold a bilateral meeting with the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Janusz Wojciechowski, followed by a meeting between the two officials and representatives of farmers' organisations. 

(AP/GS)