**NICOSIA, CYPRUS** – A considerable contingent of Cypriot farmers converged outside the Presidential Palace in the capital on Thursday morning, voicing vehement opposition to proposed alterations in the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and a nascent free trade accord with the South American bloc, Mercosur. The demonstration, part of a broader continental wave of agrarian unrest, underscores profound anxieties regarding the sustainability and economic viability of farming within the bloc.
The farmers, representing a coalition of prominent agricultural organisations including PEK, EKA, Panagrotikos, Nea Agrotiki Kinisi, and Euroagrotikos, marched from staging points at the GSP Stadium parking lot and near a prominent retail outlet, converging on the seat of presidential power. Their primary objective was to submit a formal resolution and a series of letters to the heads of the European Commission and the European Parliament, articulating their grievances and demanding immediate governmental intervention.
Central to their demands are increased state subsidies and the implementation of concrete measures to address the manifold challenges confronting the agricultural sector. A particularly potent call was directed at President Nikos Christodoulides, urging him to actively oppose the proposed CAP revisions when they are debated within the framework of the EU's next multiannual financial plan, anticipated to be deliberated next year. Concerns were voiced that without such opposition, the future of Cyprus's agricultural landscape, and by extension its food security, faces existential peril.
The protest highlights a growing schism between agricultural producers and EU policymakers, who farmers argue are enacting policies that create "unprecedented pressure on the primary sector." The proposed reduction of the CAP budget by an estimated €80 billion in the upcoming multiannual financial framework, coupled with the potential ramifications of the Mercosur trade deal, are viewed as direct threats that could ultimately lead to the "wiping out of the peasantry."
Official statements from the Ministry of Agriculture have acknowledged the widespread dissatisfaction. Andreas Gregoriou, the ministry's permanent secretary, indicated that agriculture ministers from EU member states have already deemed the European Commission's current regulatory proposals as unsatisfactory. Furthermore, the ministry has pledged that Cyprus, upon assuming the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU next month, will actively champion efforts to refine these proposals. This upcoming presidency presents a crucial juncture for Cyprus to advocate for a more robust and equitable CAP, a significant reduction in administrative burdens, and a greater incorporation of farmers' practical needs into policy formulation.
The agricultural unions, led by figures such as Christos Papapetrou of the Pancyprian farmers union, Kyriakos Kailas of the grain producers’ organisation, and Panikos Hambas of the Union of Cyprus farmers, emphasised the critical need for state support and expert guidance to navigate the complex issues at hand. Mr. Hambas, in a pointed remark, stated that if the President fails to oppose the CAP changes, "Cyprus is finished both environmentally and economically," underscoring the perceived severity of the situation.
These demonstrations are not isolated incidents but form part of a coordinated, pan-European mobilisation, with significant protests also occurring in Brussels. The farmers' collective action signals a determined effort to influence policy decisions that will shape the future of agriculture across the continent, particularly in the crucial period following 2027, when a significant overhaul of the CAP is planned. The outcome of these debates and Cyprus's role during its EU Council presidency will be pivotal in determining the trajectory of the sector for the 2028-2034 financial framework and beyond.