The key priorities of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the field of fisheries were presented on Tuesday at the European Parliament by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou, who underlined the need for a more autonomous, resilient and competitive European Union.
Speaking at the meeting of the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries (PECH), Minister Panayiotou stressed that sustainability, food security and the Union’s strategic autonomy are at the forefront of the Cypriot Presidency’s agenda, at a time of heightened challenges stemming from climate change, biodiversity loss and geopolitical instability.
After expressing her sincere condolences to the families and communities affected by the tragic railway accident in Andalusia, the Minister of Agriculture highlighted that the central theme of the Presidency is an autonomous European Union that is open to the world. ‘A Union that is more resilient, more self-sufficient and better prepared, while at the same time remaining outward-looking and actively present on the international stage,’ she explained.
This approach, she continued, is reflected in the five pillars of the Presidency, with agriculture and fisheries falling primarily under the pillar of autonomy through competitiveness.
She emphasised that the Cypriot Presidency will place particular focus on strengthening the competitiveness, sustainability and long-term resilience of Europe’s fisheries and agricultural sectors. At the same time, she noted, there must be full awareness of the serious challenges posed by climate change, biodiversity loss, ongoing geopolitical instability and increasing international political violence.
Minister Panayiotou described it as crucial to highlight the importance of fisheries and agriculture in the context of food security and the Union’s strategic autonomy. She noted that fisheries and agricultural products offer significant benefits for health and the environment and play a key role in promoting healthy dietary patterns and supporting public health.
The Minister of Agriculture also referred to cooperation with the European Parliament, and in particular with the PECH Committee, so that joint efforts respond effectively to the needs of European fishers and consumers.
She stressed that only through close cooperation among the Parliament, the Council and the European Commission can tangible results be achieved for these sectors.
She pointed out that the Cypriot Presidency will seek to promote a strengthened Common Fisheries Policy that enhances sustainability, resilience and competitiveness, while at the same time ensuring the long-term prosperity of coastal communities.
‘During the Presidency,’ she continued, ‘we expect to work closely on two additional legislative files concerning regional fisheries management organisations, as well as on issues related to the external dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy, including international relations with coastal states and Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements.’
Minister Panayiotou underlined that her roots and traditions are deeply connected to rural life and that she has spent her life living by the sea. ‘My responsibility for a wide range of policy areas – fisheries, aquaculture, agriculture, forestry, natural resources and the environment – offers a truly holistic perspective. This is also reflected in the three pillars of sustainability and guides the principles of the Common Fisheries Policy: environmental, economic and social,’ she explained.
Concluding her address, she thanked the Polish and Danish Presidencies for their work in advancing the objectives of the programme, as well as the members of the European Parliament’s PECH Committee for their constructive contribution. ‘Your role is crucial in ensuring that the concerns of European fishers remain at the heart of our policies, and I look forward to our future cooperation,’ she concluded.
Responding to questions raised by members of the PECH Committee, the Minister stressed that the guiding principle of the Cypriot Presidency in the coming period will be meaningful and honest dialogue.
As she noted, progress in European policymaking can only be achieved through open and sincere discussions between the European Parliament, the Council, the European Commission and the sector itself. She underlined that the same approach applies to discussions on the future of the Common Fisheries Policy, its funding under the new MMF, and the challenges facing the primary sector.
Referring to the role of the Presidency, she stressed that it acts as a mediator, aiming to facilitate structured and constructive dialogue so that the positions of the European Parliament are heard and taken into account. As she pointed out, the cost of inaction is far higher than the cost of action, emphasising that climate change is directly affecting production, fisheries and the primary sector as a whole.
With regard to questions on the framework of the Common Fisheries Policy and the renewal of the fishing fleet, the Minister acknowledged the concerns that have been raised, noting that the European Commission’s proposals are currently under assessment. She made clear that the Presidency’s priority is to address the needs of the sector within budgetary limits and to facilitate dialogue between the Council and the Parliament, in order to ensure adequate support across all policy areas.