EU Ministers were going to discuss draft conclusions on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy after 2027, drafts which include Cyprus' suggestions as well as input from the discussions of the MED9 that took place in Cyprus, during the Agriculture and Fisheries Council of the EU taking place in Luxembourg, Minister for Agriculture Maria Panayiotou said upon her arrival to the Council on Monday.

According to Panayiotou, the draft as submitted "has positive elements” such as for example the adoption of a number of suggestions put forward by Cyprus, as well as of some of the conclusions on water scarcity and on support to farmers taken during the MED9 ministerial meeting which was held in Cyprus.

"But we have to see how the discussion will develop to see if we will support it as it is, or if it there will be changes, or if it should be discussed at a later stage," he noted.

Speaking about the EU's trade agreements with third countries which are also on the agenda, Panayiotou said Cyprus' position is clear that agriculture in the EU needs to remain viable and competitive.

"Therefore, all products coming into the Union must follow the same standards and the requirements must be the same for all farmers”, she added.

The ministers will also discuss a document submitted by Portugal and supported by Cyprus, regarding the common position that farmers "should receive support from the various funds that the European Union has", not only from the Common Agricultural Policy, "but also from other instruments that can be in dialogue with the CAP to ensure sustainability for European farmers".

Panayiotou added that she will inform her counterparts about the 24th annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) which will take place in Cyprus in November in cooperation with the European Commission, to discuss fish stocks.