No payments from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are made to farmers in the areas of the Republic of Cyprus not under the effective control of the government, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen states in a letter to Cypriot MEP (DISY, EPP) Michalis Hadjipantela seen by CNA.
The letter, dated 16 July 2026, is a reply to the MEP’s query on possible EU agricultural payments to animal farmers in the areas not under the effective control of the government. At the outset of the letter, seen by CNA, von der Leyen thanks Hadjipantela “for your letter regarding any EU agricultural payments to animal farmers in the areas of the Republic of Cyprus not under the effective control of the government of the Republic of Cyprus.”
“I would like to reassure you that no payments from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are made or have been made to farmers in the areas of the Republic of Cyprus not under the effective control of the government. Indeed, funds from the CAP for Cyprus are managed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, in line with the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan,” the EU Commission President adds.
Von der Leyen also addresses at length the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Cyprus, stating that she is aware of the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Cyprus and consider that its eradication requires implementation of measures in line with EU animal health legislation across the island.
“My services remain in close contact with the government of the Republic of Cyprus to support its efforts in managing the outbreak. We welcome the cooperation between the two Cypriot communities, including through the Sub-Committee on Veterinary Issues of the bi-communal Technical Committee on Health,” she adds.
Concluding her letter, Von der Leyen underlines that “the Commission will continue to support measures to ensure the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease throughout Cyprus as quickly as possible”.