People in Cyprus are really worried about the new free trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur countries. This deal, which took 25 years to finalize, is the biggest trade agreement ever made by the EU.
Agricultural groups and the President of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture are raising alarms about risks to food safety, the environment, and the future of local farming. They say it creates unfair competition that hits Cypriot producers hard.
Kyriakos Kailas, President of Panagrotikos, pointed out that the deal lets in products that don’t follow the EU’s strict rules on pesticides, fertilizers, and GMOs. Meanwhile, European farmers have to spend more money to adapt. He mentioned that their production costs have gone up by 20% to 30%, making it tough for them to compete.
He doubts that the quotas in the agreement will work. He believes even small imports at lower prices could hurt local production badly. He added that to make competition fair, they would need to either ban these imports or loosen EU regulations, which could put public health at risk.
Panikos Hambas, General Secretary of EKA, said the agreement leads to unfair competition and brings in products made with banned substances, which he called dangerous for consumers. He noted that several member states voted against or abstained from supporting it. He also expressed frustration over how little information agricultural organizations received about the Cypriot Government’s position.
He urged Cypriot MEPs to vote against the deal, warning that livestock farmers and the poultry sector face the biggest threats. The potential fallout includes rural areas being abandoned and serious environmental damage.
On a political note, Yiannakis Gabriel, President of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, announced they will discuss this issue next Wednesday with Health, Agriculture, and Trade Ministers present. He said they will seek answers about the Government’s position and warned that this agreement could lead to imports of low-quality products while raising costs for European producers.
Mr. Gabriel called the agreement disastrous for Cyprus’s primary sector. He pointed out its effects on an isolated island already dealing with water shortages and climate issues. He questioned why the Government backed a deal that he believes harms Cypriot citizens.
