Nicosia, Cyprus. Cypriot MEP Costas Mavrides called for a halt to European Union funding of the Turkish Cypriot agricultural sector, alleging refusal to apply EU rules amid an ongoing foot and mouth disease outbreak on the island.
Call for suspension of EU funds
Mavrides, of Diko, said the livestock health crisis had developed into a political crisis. Addressing European Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen, he said livestock farmers in the free areas were implementing EU instructions and protocols by killing thousands of animals, while the same measures were not being implemented in the occupied areas of Cyprus.
He asked whether farmers who follow EU instructions would be punished repeatedly while those in the occupied areas refuse to implement them, and questioned whether the situation amounted to fair treatment. He also asked whether any measures would be taken or whether funds would continue to go to the occupied areas, and asked how food is affected by the occupation.
Compliance with EU rules remains unclear
It remains unclear whether EU rules regarding the spread of foot and mouth disease are being followed by Turkish Cypriot farmers or Turkish Cypriot authorities. The rules stipulate, among other things, that if the disease is detected on a farm, every animal on that farm must be culled.
The Cyprus Mail said it made persistent and repeated attempts to contact Turkish Cypriot ‘agriculture minister’ Huseyin Cavus and received no response.
EU aid allocations and outbreak details
Last September, as part of its aid programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, the EU provided €2.7 million for animal health and food safety within the Turkish Cypriot community and a further €2 million to improve the capacity and efficiency of Turkish Cypriot agricultural cooperatives.
More than 100 farms in Cyprus have been infected by foot and mouth disease, with thousands of livestock animals killed in the opening months of the year. Many farmers have blamed, at least in part, the Turkish Cypriot authorities for the disease’s spread.
An outbreak was detected in the village of Ayios Sergios, between Famagusta and Trikomo, last December. Cavus said earlier in the year that he had been warning the Republic of Cyprus’ authorities about the disease since then.
What steps do you think the EU should take regarding funding and disease-control compliance during the outbreak?
