Nine EU Agriculture Ministers called on the European Commission to make progress on water security during a meeting in Cyprus.
The MED-9 ministers represented France, Italy, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Slovenia, Malta, and Cyprus. They issued a joint appeal on Tuesday to help the agricultural sector cope with water shortages and secure water supplies amid a worsening drought. Cypriot Minister Maria Panayiotou stated:
This ministerial session is a testament to our determination to tackle water scarcity and ensure a resilient and prosperous future for our farmers. We call on the European Commission to move swiftly with the European Water Strategy.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the strategy in a speech to the European Parliament on 18 July. At the time, ministers called for the European Water Strategy “to ensure that water is a top priority on the European agenda in the coming years and to make the EU’s water management objectives a reality.”
Ministers of the MED-9 group insisted on the need to finance European agriculture by creating a European insurance system. Spanish Minister Luis Planas submitted a corresponding request to the European Commission on Monday. Italian Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida told a press conference:
It is necessary to strengthen CAP funding because the CAP is the instrument that guarantees the presence of agriculture in the regions.
The Ministers also called for enhanced co-operation in the field of research, best practices, and technological solutions.
