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- Ελληνικά
The Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Dr Maria Panayiotou, participated in the work of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council of the European Union (EU), which took place in Brussels. The main topics of the Council were the management of crisis response tools through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the situation on the markets.
During the Council's proceedings, Dr Panagiotou informed the Ministers of Agriculture of the EU Member States about the impact of the prolonged drought on Cypriot agriculture and called on the Commission to formulate measures to address the situation in order to safeguard the present and future food production in Cyprus, as well as to grant the necessary flexibility.
During the Council's proceedings, Dr Panagiotou informed the Ministers of Agriculture of the EU Member States about the impact of the prolonged drought on Cypriot agriculture and called on the Commission to formulate measures to address the situation in order to safeguard the present and future food production in Cyprus, as well as to grant the necessary flexibility. A significant number of member states (Spain, France, Portugal, Portugal, Greece, Romania, the Netherlands, Croatia, Italy, Malta, Poland, Denmark) expressed their solidarity with Cyprus and noted the need to find solutions to the drought issue. The Commission invited the Cypriot authorities to enter into dialogue with a view to finding appropriate measures. Cyprus is therefore starting to develop the framework for these measures, in cooperation with the Member States participating in MED9, in order to ensure that these measures respond to the needs of Member States facing common problems, but also that they can be implemented immediately and effectively.
Regarding the management of crisis response tools through the CAP, Dr Panayiotou pointed out that under the Cyprus Presidency of MED9, a joint communiqué of the Ministers of Agriculture was adopted, proposing the use of all available appropriations of the Multiannual Financial Framework of the CAP, as well as the possibility of developing crisis response measures with funding up to 2% of the financial envelope of the Strategic Plan. She called on the Commission to aim to accelerate the adoption of new technologies, to increase funding for investments in new technologies, especially for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and to create a network to strengthen cooperation between Member States facing common problems.
On the issue of the market situation, Dr Panagiotou pointed out the increased difficulties faced by the agricultural sector in Cyprus in relation to production costs, the geographical distance from EU markets and the unfavourable climatic conditions.
(B]PIO[/B]
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