The Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council “will promote a fair, competitive and sustainable primary production sector”, in the planned debates on the post-2027 common agricultural policy (CAP), according to the work programme for the first half of 2026, presented in late December 2025.
The Cyprus Presidency wishes to advance discussions on the proposals for the post-2027 CAP and the common market organisation (CMO) “to provide a robust and adaptive legislative response ensuring food security and a fair standard of living for the agricultural community” (see EUROPE 13771/8).
Improving crisis prevention and management mechanisms, including fire prevention measures, will be a priority. The Cyprus Presidency will also continue efforts to simplify CAP rules.
In an interview with Agence Europe on 14 July 2025, the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment of the Republic of Cyprus, Maria Panayiotou, stressed the importance of maintaining a balance between environmental and climate objectives, and the competitiveness of the agricultural sector (see EUROPE 13682/12). The informal meeting of agriculture ministers will take place from 3 to 5 May in Lefkosia.
CAP. According to the provisional agendas for the Councils under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council, European ministers will have policy debates on 23 February and 27 April (Luxembourg) on the proposals for the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). A progress report on the future CAP will be presented at the Agriculture Council meeting on 22-23 June in Luxembourg.
In addition, ministers will discuss the results of one year of implementation of the ‘vision for agriculture and food’ at their meeting on 30 March.
The situation on agricultural markets, particularly in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine, will also be on the agenda for the Council meetings on 23 February and 27 April.
The agricultural aspects of the free trade agreements will be examined at the Council meetings on 30 March and 26 May.
Animal health and food safety. At their Council meeting in late June (22-23 June), ministers will review the state of negotiations on the regulation on the protection of animals during transport (see EUROPE 13772/11).
Debates are also planned on the following topics: - the role of agriculture in fire prevention (Council meeting of 30 March); - the regulation on the production and marketing of plant reproductive material (Council meeting of 22-23 June); - the revision of the regulation on organic farming (Council meeting of 26 January: see EUROPE 13775/24); - the Unfair Trading Practices Directive, when the Commission presents its evaluation report (Council meeting of 26 January); - the European Union’s bioeconomy strategy (Council meeting of 26 January).
Fisheries. At their meeting in Luxembourg on 22-23 June, ministers will debate the European Commission’s evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and sustainable fishing in the European Union, including the state of play and orientations for 2027.
At the Council meeting on 23 February, ministers will have the opportunity to respond to the European Commission’s communication on the energy transition in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. Finally, at the Council meeting on 22 and 23 June, the Commission will provide information on the outcome of the preparatory meeting for a new MedFish4Ever declaration.
Cyprus programme and ministerial meetings: https://aeur.eu/f/k4d ; https://aeur.eu/f/k5o (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)