Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou was traveling to Brussels on Sunday, for the European Union’s Council of Ministers for Agriculture and Fisheries on Monday.

After the conclusion of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Panayiotou will remain in Brussels to also participate in the EU Environment Ministers’ Council, which will be held on Thursday.

According to a ministry press release, Panayiotou will emphasize the need for adequate and targeted support for farmers in member states affected by drought and other climate pressures. She will highlight the importance of maintaining the structure of the Common Agricultural Policy and continuing its funding as a key tool for food security, and will raise the need for flexibility in the regulatory framework of fisheries, with the aim of reducing administrative burdens and supporting coastal fishing and aquaculture.

As is is noted, the main agenda item for the Agriculture and Firsheries Council will be the European Commission’s “Vision for Agriculture and Food”, presented on February 19, 2025. This initiative aims to define the future of the EU’s agri-food sector up to 2040. The Council will hold a public orientation debate on this Vision, focusing on the strategic importance of agriculture, the resilience of the sector, enhancing farmers’ incomes, and the need for investments in innovative and green technologies.

In the fisheries sector, an informal ministerial lunch will discuss the future of the Common Fisheries Policy, during which the prospects for modernizing and simplifying the current framework, adapting to new climate and economic conditions, and addressing the challenges faced by coastal and small-scale fisheries will be discussed.

On the sidelines of the Council, the Minister will also attend thematic events on sustainable shipping and oceans. On Tuesday, Panayiotou will participate in a panel during the official launch of the European Commission’s aquaculture campaign, and later on she will meet with the EU Council Secretariat to discuss issues related to the preparation of the Cypriot Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2026.

On Wednesday, Panayiotou will participate in the ministerial meeting organized by the European Commission on accelerating the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 and other marine objectives of the UN 2030 Agenda.