EU support is set to counteract the Russian food embargo on European food products; Cyprus’ Agriculture Minister Nicos Kouyialis is set to secure additional EU support for the local citrus trees sector and agriculture in general.
“I want to stress that so far we have succeeded in obtaining support for the citrus sector, for two successive years, 2014 and 2015. Now we have succeeded in locking an extension and as a result Cyprus is now in a position to absorb €3 million in financial support on the citrus sector”, the minister announced.
“We have analysed the situation of the agricultural sector in Cyprus, we have pinpointed the problem of drought, that significantly affects our market and the agricultural sector and we have asked for additional financial support”, he said, expressing hope that “amongst the measures to be presented by the European Commission there will be some supportive measures for Cyprus as well”.
The minister revealed that the 28 EU member states had a “very productive discussion on the situation of the agricultural sector in Europe and on the situation of the European markets”.
Now, he added, “we expect the Commission to present a new package of measures that will tackle all the problems.”
Source: Fresh Plaza