Cypriot farmers postpone Nicosia protest following mediation proposal

On Sunday, February 15, 2025, Cypriot agricultural organizations announced the temporary postponement of a protest scheduled for Monday, February 16. The decision followed an emergency meeting initiated by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment, Dr. Maria Panayiotou. The meeting included representatives from organizations such as PEK, EKA, Panagrotikos, and POS, along with officials from the Cyprus Agricultural Payments Organization (KOAP) and the Ministry of Interior. Minister Panayiotou presented a mediation proposal aimed at resolving bureaucratic issues and land management difficulties for private parcels with multiple owners. This proposal has been adopted by KOAP and will be submitted to the European Commission for final evaluation. Prior to the suspension, farmers had planned to march with tractors from meeting points like the GSP stadium to the KOAP headquarters in Nicosia. The police had already prepared security measures to manage expected traffic disruptions across main arterial routes. The agricultural groups indicated that the proposal appears to offer a viable solution to the administrative burdens they face. The Ministry emphasized that the goal is to allow farmers to focus on land cultivation rather than bureaucratic procedures.