Cyprus seeks flexibility on aid scheme for milk, fruit and vegetables

Cyprus believes that the new regime relating to the aid scheme for milk, fruit and vegetables should give the necessary flexibility to EU member states to help them implement the regulations on the basis of the economic situation in each state, Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment, Nikos Kouyialis, has said.

The Minister outlined his position at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, which took place on Monday in Brussels.

The meeting, chaired by the Greek Minister for Rural Development and Food, Athanasios Tsaftaris, discussed several matters such as: the Greek Presidency’s work programme in the agriculture and fisheries sectors, the Aid scheme for the supply of fruit and vegetables and milk in schools, the promotion measures for agricultural products and the situation in the dairy sector.

In his intervention at the meeting, the Cypriot Minister pointed out the need to improve the effectiveness of the aid scheme for milk, fruit and vegetables, adding that the Ministry aims at absorbing as much European funds as possible

Kouyialis said that the new regime in this area should give the necessary flexibility to member states to help them implement the regulations based on the economic situation in each state.

Other issues on the agenda included the Innovation Partnership for agriculture productivity and sustainability, the conclusions from the 34th Conference of Directors of EU Paying Agencies, the conference on agriculture, food security and climate change, the climatic disaster and effects on agricultural production in Slovenia and the consequences of an outbreak of African Swine Fever in Lithuania.