Margaritis Schinas<\/a><\/b> sent a message of strengthening the agri-food sector from Nicosia, Margaritis Schinas<\/b>.<\/p>\n
The Informal Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers<\/b> of the European Union and the MedFish4Ever,<\/b> held in Nicosia, with the participation of Minister of Rural Development and Food, Margaritis Schinas, who presented the Greek positions on both agriculture and fisheries, emphasizing the strengthening of the agri-food sector.<\/p>\n
As regards the discussion on the agriculture and agro-climatic risk management, he underlined that Europe is now facing a permanent and complex crisis regime, which directly affects production and, by extension, food security<\/b>. He stressed that climate change, water scarcity, epidemics and market volatility are creating new pressures on producers,<\/b> necessitating a substantial shift from the ex-post compensation model to an integrated strategy of prevention and resilience building.<\/p>\n
Schinas pointed out that the complexity of the existing tools foreseen under the Crisis Response Framework remains a major obstacle to their use in practice, especially by small and medium sized producers. He stressed that enhancing resilience requires simple and functional tools, but also targeted investments in infrastructure, smart irrigation, biosecurity and modern digital early warning systems.<\/b><\/p>\nFocus on water scarcity<\/b><\/h3>\n
He particularly emphasised the issue of water scarcity<\/b>, which he described as a structural risk for Mediterranean countries, underlining the need for a more coordinated and effective European response. At the same time, he highlighted the importance of effective support for young and small farmers, as well as the need to create a European agricultural risk reinsurance mechanism, with the contribution of the European Investment Bank, in order to ensure a level playing field for all producers.<\/p>\n
As regards fishing<\/b>, the minister welcomed the presentation of the evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy<\/b> by the European Commission, which highlights the need for improvements in its effectiveness and implementation.<\/p>\n
Schinas set as a key priority for Greece the simplification of the institutional framework and the reduction of the administrative burden in order to enhance compliance and the effectiveness of the policy in practice.<\/p>\n
Focusing on small-scale coastal fishing, which, she said, is a critical pillar of the Greek economy and social cohesion, as it accounts for the majority of the country’s fishermen, she called for fish stocks to be balanced with the development of coastal communities. At the same time, he stressed the need to support the modernisation of the fleet and the energy transition.<\/b><\/p>\n
Referring to the international dimensions of the fisheries policy, he highlighted the importance of ensuring a level playing field with third countries, as well as the need to strengthen efforts to combat illegal, illegal and unregulated fishing, which, particularly in the Aegean, is reaching alarming proportions.<\/b> In the same context, he underlined the role of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean and regional organisations in the management of shared stocks.<\/p>\n
At the same time, he stressed the importance of aquaculture<\/b> as a strategic sector for sustainable development and the enhancement of food sufficiency, noting that Greece is promoting its development in terms of environmental sustainability and social responsibility. <\/p>\n
Finally, on the sidelines of the Council, the Minister had a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from EU Member States.<\/p>\n
In particular, he met with the Minister of Agriculture of Italy, Francesco Lollobrigida, the Minister of Rural Development of Sweden, Peter Kullgren, the Minister of Agriculture of Ireland, Martin Heydon, and the Minister of Lithuania, K\u0119stutis Navickas.<\/b><\/p>\n
The meetings confirmed a common interest in strengthening European cooperation in the agricultural sector, in particular on issues of risk management and support for producers in the face of market pressures. <\/p>\n
The need for close coordination and to ensure the continuity of legislative work and policy interventions in the agricultural sector was underlined with the Irish Minister Martin Heydon and the Lithuanian Minister K\u0119stutis Navickas, as these are the next countries, together with Greece, to take over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in succession. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Margaritis Schinas sent a message of strengthening the agri-food sector from Nicosia. Completed,
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