Dialogos

Alarm in the Agricultural Sector over EU-Mercosur Agreement

Published January 11, 2026, 06:00
Alarm in the Agricultural Sector over EU-Mercosur Agreement

The approval of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement is causing strong reactions in Cyprus, with agricultural organizations warning of risks to food safety, the environment, and the sustainability of the primary sector. Farmers are concerned about unfair competition and potential negative consequences for domestic production, especially on an island facing water scarcity and climate change. Yiannakis Gavriel, MP for AKEL and Chairman of the Agriculture Committee, announced that the issue will be discussed ex officio in the Committee next Wednesday, requesting explanations from the government. He emphasizes that the agreement may lead to imports of low-quality products and increase production costs. Pambikos Chambas, General Secretary of the Cyprus Agricultural Organization (EKA), warns that the agreement allows the import of products containing substances prohibited in the EU, endangering public health. He calls on Cypriot MEPs to vote against the agreement, while the president of Panagrotikos, Kyriakos Kailas, describes it as disastrous, estimating that it will increase production costs by 30% and threaten domestic production. Agricultural organizations express their concern for the future of the sector and call for the protection of Cypriot farmers from unfair competition and the negative effects of the agreement.

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