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Panayiotou stresses need to tackle drought in agriculture at EU Council

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 26, 2024

Minister for Agriculture, Maria Panayiotou, talked about the effects of drought on Cyprus, as well as the measures that the EU can take to support the agricultural sector across Europe, and presented the recent joint statement by the MED9 on the issue, during the Agriculture and Fisheries Council of the EU held in Brussels.

During a discussion on the state of agricultural markets in the EU, Panayiotou referred to the significant impact that a prolonged drought has had on Cyprus, resulting in significantly reduced yields for irrigated and non-irrigated crops, the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment said in a press release on Wednesday.

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The Minister, the press release adds, “pointed out that, due to limited water availability in dams, water supply for agricultural purposes has been reduced by 33.7% for 2024, while the forecasts for the following years are not favourable.”

Panayiotou called on the European Commission to activate the agricultural reserve to provide support to affected farmers, but also to further simplify support measures related to water management under the Common Agricultural Policy.

During the meeting, the Minister also presented the joint statement on the impact of drought on the primary sector, which was issued by the Ministers of Agriculture of the nine Mediterranean EU Member States (MED9) during a recent meeting in Cyprus.

Panayiotou referred specifically to the need for a collective response to this phenomenon that threatens food production and the social fabric of rural areas in the EU and pointed out that the joint statement reflects the practical commitment of the Mediterranean Member States to find solutions that will allow sustainable water management and will be included in EU policies.

According to the press release, the joint communication of the MED9 received the support of other Member States, in addition to the countries that had signed it in Cyprus.

During a working lunch, Professor Peter Strohschneider presented his report on the results of the strategic dialogue on the future of agriculture, which was presented in early September at a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Panayiotou said she supports the need to further target support for farmers, with a focus on small and medium-sized farms and young farmers, as mentioned in the report. She also stressed the importance of promoting new technologies and innovation in agricultural production.

She also noted that the proposal to create two funds independent of the CAP, such as the fair transition fund and the nature restoration fund, should not limit appropriations which will be available through the next CAP in the future.

The Agriculture Minister said that Cyprus agrees with the proposed reform of the agricultural reserve, pointing out the need for a more flexible crisis management framework that will provide adequate support to farmers and allow for faster and simplified procedures, adapted to local needs and specificities.

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Cyprus’ New Online Shopping Duty Generates Nearly €2 Million In Its First Month

by News Editor

August 4, 2026

Cyprus collected nearly €2 million in July after introducing a new €3 customs duty on low-value online purchases, highlighting the continued volume of cross-border e-commerce entering the country.

According to Customs Department spokesperson George Constantinou, authorities processed around 160,000 parcels containing approximately 650,000 chargeable items during the first month of the measure. Based on those figures, the new duty generated an estimated €1.95 million in revenue.

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Stronger-Than-Expected Start

The result exceeded initial expectations. Authorities had previously projected the measure would raise around €15 million annually, meaning July alone accounted for roughly 13% of that estimate. However, customs officials said it is still too early to conclude, noting that some shoppers may have placed orders in June before the duty took effect, while seasonal holiday spending may also have influenced July’s figures.

How The Charge Works

Introduced across the European Union on 1 July, the duty applies to consignments valued below €150 arriving directly from countries outside the bloc. Rather than charging each parcel once, the €3 fee applies to every customs category included in a shipment, meaning a parcel containing products from three categories would incur a €9 charge.

Looking Ahead

Customs officials said the rollout was completed without major operational issues, with only minor adjustments required during the first days of implementation. They also expect shoppers to adapt to the new system over time, while retailers may increasingly shift inventory to EU-based warehouses to avoid the charge on goods shipped directly from third countries.

The measure forms part of a broader European response to the rapid growth of low-value imports from platforms such as Temu, Shein and AliExpress. In 2025, EU customs authorities processed nearly 5.9 billion low-value items, representing almost 98% of all imported goods handled across the bloc.