The Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Environment, Maria Panayiotou, as she arrived at the final Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AgriFish) meeting under the Cypriot Presidency, which is taking place today, Monday, in Luxembourg.

Ms. Panayiotou, who will chair the meetings, stated that the Council is sending the message that agriculture and fisheries remain strategic pillars for the European Union’s food security and sustainability.

Referring to the fisheries sector, she noted that during the Cypriot Presidency, the necessary amendments to the regulations on fishing opportunities were advanced, while significant international agreements were also concluded that strengthen the EU’s role in ocean governance. At the same time, he spoke of the launch of a broader discussion on the future of the Common Fisheries Policy, focusing on fishing opportunities for 2027 and adapting the policy to the demands of a rapidly changing environment.

With regard to agriculture, the Minister emphasized that the Cypriot Presidency sought to keep the sector high on the European political agenda, at a time marked by geopolitical uncertainty, climate-related pressures, and rising production costs.

As he noted, during the six-month term, initiatives were promoted to support rural communities in the next Multiannual Financial Framework, while progress was made on issues related to farmers’ income and the future of the Common Agricultural Policy.

The Minister also referred to legislative developments, noting progress on issues such as the revision of the Common Market Organization, the Regulation on Plant Propagating Material, and organic farming, noting that these initiatives aim to reduce the administrative burden on farmers.

In conclusion, the Minister stated that the discussion on the future of agriculture and fisheries in the EU should focus on maintaining strong and resilient policies that can support both current producers and future generations.

For his part, the Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Kostas Kadis, noted that the ministers will discuss the results of the evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy Regulation, recalling that an initial exchange of views on the matter had taken place during the informal Council of Ministers hosted a few months ago in Cyprus.

He noted that the evaluation shows that, following the latest reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, progress has been made, with more fish stocks now being fished at sustainable levels. At the same time, he added, the assessment highlighted weaknesses and gaps, which will be addressed during the ministers’ discussion with the aim of determining the next steps.

The Commissioner also noted that discussions on fishing opportunities for the new period will begin at the Council, where he will present the state of the fisheries sector and the challenges it faces.

He emphasized that the goal of these discussions and the decisions to be made is to ensure a sustainable and resilient fishing sector, not only in the short term, but also over the long term, so that it can meet the needs of the coming decades.