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The Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Mr Petros Xenophontos, had today, 10 November 2023, a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Rural Development and Food of Greece, Mr Eleftherios Avgenakis, who is paying an official visit to Cyprus at the invitation of Mr Xenophontos.
During the meeting, which took place at the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, issues of common interest were discussed as well as ways to further strengthen the close cooperation with Greece, within the framework of the responsibilities of the two Ministries, both at bilateral and European level.
In addition, the further strengthening of cooperation with various academic state and research institutions of Greece in the fields of agricultural education, smart agriculture and the application of new technologies was discussed.
In addition, the further strengthening of cooperation with various academic state and research institutions of Greece in the fields of agricultural education, smart agriculture and the application of new technologies was discussed. It was pointed out that cooperation with academic and research institutions in Greece is considered beneficial and its expansion is aimed at disseminating knowledge to farmers through the organization of educational programmes in which academics and researchers from Greece will participate as trainers.
The challenges facing the agri-food sector in the constantly changing international environment were also discussed, given the adverse effects of the climate crisis and the undertaking of joint initiatives within the framework of the European Union.
Particular emphasis was placed on combating the phenomenon of Greek agricultural products being labelled as Cypriot. In particular, the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, following complaints from Cypriot potato traders and organised groups, sent relevant material to the competent authority of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food of Greece. The aim is to identify and combat the phenomenon of potatoes of Greek, Egyptian and possibly other countries' origin being labelled as Cypriot potatoes and placed on the Greek market.
A key topic of discussion was marine alien species, i.e. marine species that, due to anthropogenic activities, are outside the limits of their historically natural geographical distribution, as this is a serious problem for Greece as well, such as rabbithead and lionfish.
Finally, it was agreed to continue the close cooperation that already exists at the level of the EU Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers, in order to formulate policies and promote the interests of the two countries, as well as to strengthen it at bilateral level. In this context, it was decided to update the Cooperation Programme, on the basis of the Agreement between the Governments of the Republic of Cyprus and the Hellenic Republic on cooperation in the agricultural sector, which entered into force in 1991, on matters of competence of the two Ministries: "Troodos, the rural farmer and the future of the Cypriot rural economy"
(MGS)
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