Cyprus will press for action to support farmers facing rising costs, with fertilisers a key priority, Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou said on Tuesday as EU agriculture ministers met in Brussels.
Panayiotou said the affordability and availability of fertilisers were central to farmers’ income, production and food security, as pressure mounts from high input costs, the energy crisis and geopolitical tensions.
She pointed to the European Commission’s Fertiliser Action Plan, presented on 19 May, describing it as a toolbox and a roadmap for future steps.
Tuesday’s meeting will include a political discussion aimed at shifting from short-term responses to longer-term solutions, including strengthening Europe’s autonomy in fertilisers, supporting domestic production and promoting sustainable and circular alternatives, she said.
Panayiotou also stressed the importance of maintaining international agreements to ensure a level playing field for European farmers, uphold high production standards and reinforce the EU food supply chain.
Asked whether Cyprus would push for additional measures under the fertiliser plan, Panayiotou said the aim was to record member states’ positions and assess next steps, adding that “we will listen to the Member States and see how the discussion develops”.
On the process of selecting an EU candidate for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, she said member states had agreed on the need for a common candidate, but consultations were continuing and no final decision had been taken.
She added that energy costs remain a key concern for agriculture, noting their close link to fertiliser prices and broader support for farmers.
Source: CNA
