Cyprus calls for EU help to deal with drought

Cypriot Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Photis Photiou said on Tuesday that the EU should intervene and support the member states that are facing the negative consequences of drought, adding that the Cypriot government, as part of its water policy, is planning and implementing desalination and water recycling projects.

Speaking at Larnaca airport on his return from Brussels, where he represented Cyprus at a meeting of EU Agriculture and Fishery Ministers, Photiou said he had the opportunity to discuss with his counterparts of the Mediterranean countries the consequences of drought on the agricultural people of Cyprus.

He said their position is that ”the EU must intervene and support the member states which are facing the negative consequences of drought,” adding that other countries with such problems are Italy, Portugal, Spain and Greece.

Photiou noted that a document would be sent again to the EU listing all the consequences from drought and that the Commissioner dealing with these issues would soon be examining the matter.