The activation of all European mechanisms to deal with zoonotic diseases and to support the world dependent on animal husbandry was requested by the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Kostas Tsiaras, attending the meeting of the Council of Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries of the EU, held in Luxembourg on October 27 and 28, 2025.

Mr. Tsiaras noted that the new CAP must emphasize the support of young and real producers and emphasized that supporting the primary sector means maintaining and strengthening social cohesion.

Referring to the modern challenges facing European agriculture and animal husbandry, the Greek minister stated that the era of challenges is also accompanied by the widespread appearance of zoonotic diseases in many countries. As he said, it is the moment when all European mechanisms must be activated, mainly to support not only livestock farming, but also all those who depend on the specific activity of the primary sector.

Mr. Tsiaras underlined the importance of the primary sector for maintaining social cohesion and emphasized that Europe always proves that in critical moments it cooperates, gives all its strength and succeeds through decisions and specific choices to support the primary sector, to give it the option of resilience and sustainability and above all to highlight it as one of the most important factors of social cohesion.

Also, the minister pointed out that Europe is in a period where “we must review, but of course also pay attention to developments concerning the primary sector, with planning and actions that must support it, mainly through the framework of the new Common Agricultural Policy”.

Furthermore, he noted that Greece insists that the new CAP must remain strong and independent, in order to be able to give the real impetus, but also to support the viability of the primary sector, through policies that mainly concern its resilience.

In addition, Mr. Tsiaras referred to the need to pay special attention to young people, women, remote and disadvantaged areas, stressing that we must “ensure strong resources so that the new programming period is accompanied by real support for the primary sector”.