Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou, highlighted the discussion on direct payments as one of the most important agenda items of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, in statements she made on Monday afternoon in Brussels.
“I would like to highlight the discussion we had on direct payments. Direct payments are more than just a financial mechanism. They are the cornerstone of supporting our farmers, supporting social cohesion in rural areas, food production, and food security,” Panayiotou stressed.
She noted that this is why Cyprus has requested adequate funding in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2027, “in order to support and fund farmers who produce and contribute to food production.”
Additionally, as the Minister pointed out, the second reason is “for each and every member state to have the flexibility to adapt and design the solutions and plans they propose, the tools at their disposal, so that they can respond to and help solve problems, meet the needs of farmers-both men and women.” She emphasized that “our main concern, our primary focus, is that no farmer is left behind.”