Farmers in Cyprus are preparing for street protests against the trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur countries.
This was stated on Friday, February 6, by Georgios Georgiou, a member of the European Parliament from Cyprus, stressing that the document poses a serious threat to food security, environmental standards and the survival of traditional Cypriot products.
Speaking at a press conference at Europe House, Gheorghiu noted that the agreement actually opens the market for cheap mass-produced products from South American countries that will compete with local producers on obviously unequal terms. According to him, Cypriot farmers will be under pressure from imports produced at lower prices and using standards that do not comply with EU regulations, which will inevitably affect both agriculture and consumer health.
The politician stated that the negative consequences of the agreement are so large-scale that it cannot be accepted in its current form. Of particular concern is the lack of real protection for iconic products such as halloumi, which are considered an integral part of Cyprus’ gastronomic and cultural identity. According to Gheorghiu, the agreement may lead to a decrease in the quality of food and undermine confidence in the European control system.
In parallel with the press conference, President of the Farmers’ Union Michalis Litras announced new protests scheduled for Saturday, February 14. A march is expected from Eleftheria Square to the Presidential Palace in Nicosia. Litras called the EU–Mercosur agreement “a tombstone for the agricultural sector,” stressing that for many farmers it means a loss of livelihood.
At the same time, Gheorghiu stressed that his position and that of the AKEL party are not directed against the very idea of European integration. He stressed that this is not about euroscepticism, but about the demand to create a fair and socially oriented Europe that protects its citizens, youth, public health and the environment. According to him, support in the form of subsidies is important, but it cannot compensate for the systemic damage that the agreement will cause.
The amendments to the agreement will be presented again in Strasbourg next week, although Georgiou himself admits that the chances of their adoption remain low. Nevertheless, he considers it necessary to continue political pressure and calls on the President of Cyprus to create alliances with other EU states that will also be affected by the agreement, seeking specific commitments for farmers in the framework of negotiations on the EU budget.
Gheorghiu also recalled that the decision of the European Court of Justice on the agreement’s compliance with EU law is expected only in 18-24 months, while there is a risk that the document will enter into force even before the verdict. He called this situation an institutional aberration, the consequences of which will be extremely difficult to correct. Even in the case of a positive court decision, according to him, the process of renegotiating the terms will be painful and protracted.
Comparing the approaches of different countries, Georgiou noted that Greece was able to protect 21 traditional products thanks to special impact assessments, while Cyprus, in his opinion, was unable to provide even adequate protection for halloumi. He also sharply criticized the production standards in the Mercosur countries, pointing to the use of pesticides banned in the EU and the agricultural model based on large-scale use of land and water resources.
According to the politician, it is unacceptable to call trade development, which actually encourages environmental destruction and deregulation. He asked whether residents of Cyprus would be able to afford high-quality products if local production was displaced, warning that consumers would be forced to switch to cheaper imports of questionable quality, which would create long-term risks to public health.
Source: cyprus-mail.com
https://cyprusbutterfly.com.cy/news/fermeryi-kipra-provedut-miting-v-nikosii
