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Cyprus’ farmers are not mincing words over the EU’s new trade deal with South America, warning it could land a heavy blow on local agriculture, from higher costs and tougher competition to big questions about what ends up on our plates.
The EU–Mercosur agreement, sealed after a marathon 25 years of negotiations with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, will make it easier for South American farm products to enter the European market. For farmers in Cyprus, that’s a worrying prospect, especially for an industry already under strain on a small, divided island grappling with high production costs and chronic water shortages.
Their main gripe? An uneven playing field. Cypriot and European farmers must stick to strict EU rules on pesticides, fertilizers, and GMOs, rules designed to protect consumers and the environment but which also drive up costs. Imports from Mercosur countries, farmers argue, don’t face the same restrictions, meaning cheaper products could quickly crowd out local produce on supermarket shelves.
Even limited imports, they warn, could be enough to tip the balance, particularly in vulnerable sectors like dairy, poultry, and livestock. There’s also concern that foods made using substances banned in the EU could still make their way onto consumers’ tables, raising red flags over food safety and environmental standards.
The row has already made its way to parliament. The House Agriculture Committee is set to discuss the issue this week, with ministers expected to explain why Cyprus backed the deal in the first place. Committee chair Yiannakis Gavriel questioned how an agreement widely seen as damaging to local farmers was approved at a time when agriculture is already under pressure from climate change, water scarcity, and rising costs.
Cyprus’ “yes” vote also stands out. Countries such as France, Poland and Hungary voted against the agreement, while farmer groups here say they were never told whether the government pushed for any special safeguards for Cyprus. They are now calling on Cypriot MEPs to vote it down when it reaches the European Parliament.
The government, for its part, sees things very differently. President Nikos Christodoulides has hailed the deal as a historic step that boosts the EU’s global standing, while the energy and commerce minister says it opens up a market of more than 700 million consumers and includes protections for sensitive sectors.
The agreement is due to be signed on January 17 in Paraguay, but it still needs the European Parliament’s approval. That vote could prove crucial, and for Cyprus’ farmers, it may decide whether this global trade push becomes yet another local headache.
*With information from Cyprus Policy Press, CNA and Reuters
