Brussels, Belgium. Cyprus’ plans for its six-month term holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union will not change following the European Parliament’s decision to refer the EU–Mercosur trade deal to the European Court of Justice, Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou said. She spoke ahead of the EU agriculture and fisheries council meeting.
Cyprus presidency programme
Panayiotou said there was “no case” in which Cyprus’ presidency programme would be altered. She said Cyprus had stated from the start it would work as an honest mediator with all parties and would continue to do so regardless of the development.
Agricultural sector priorities
On the trade deal, Panayiotou said what mattered was what preceded the extraordinary agriculture and fisheries council meeting on January 7 in terms of EU plans for the agricultural sector. She said the issues were linked to competitiveness, the sustainability of the primary sector, and farmers, and that this was a priority for Cyprus.
She said Cyprus wanted to contribute to a Europe that is more autonomous, competitive, and resilient, with the agricultural sector at the centre of that objective.
Common agricultural policy and EU budget
Panayiotou referred to planned revisions to the common agricultural policy to be included in the multiannual financial framework, the EU budget covering 2028 to 2034, amid disagreements between member state governments and farmers over how the policy should evolve.
She said Cyprus was trying to find a balance and that the goal was a strong common agricultural policy to help farmers address challenges and continue producing.
European Parliament vote and Cyprus MEPs
The European Parliament voted 334 to 324 to refer the EU-Mercosur trade deal to the European Court of Justice, warning it may be incompatible with existing EU law and that negotiation guidelines issued by the Council of the EU may not have been respected by the European Commission.
Despite Cypriot government support for the trade deal, four of Cyprus’ six MEPs—Akel’s Giorgos Georgiou, Elam’s Geadis Geadi, Diko’s Costas Mavrides, and independent Fidias Panayiotou—voted to send it to court.
How do you think Cyprus can balance its role as an honest mediator with domestic political divisions over the EU-Mercosur deal?
