Permanent Secretary of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Ministry Andreas Gregoriou and Secretary General of Agricultural Policy and International Relations Unit of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food of Greece, Constantinos Baginetas signed in Athens, the summary minutes of the 13th meeting of the joint committee for bilateral cooperation in agricultural sector.
A press release issued by the Cyprus Ministry said that the meeting took place on Wedensday. Both sides expressed satisfaction for the strengthened cooperation so far.
This was followed by the planning of activities for the next two years, based on the Cooperation Program, which was signed by the competent Ministers last March, in Nicosia.
The updated program aims, among others, to improve and expand cooperation in agriculture and livestock issues and to exchange expertise in plant and animal production, to exchange know-how in food safety and plant health issues, as well as in viticulture and soil water resources management.
It also aims to strengthen agricultural research and strengthen cooperation with the Benakeio Phytopathological Institute and the Hellenic Agricultural Organization – DIMITRA (ELGO-DIMITRA), as well as cooperation between the managing authorities on issues of management and implementation of the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy.
The press release said that given the common characteristics and challenges faced by the agricultural sector in both Cyprus and Greece, the promotion of specific actions and cooperation activities is of particular importance, since their joint implementation will substantially contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of the agricultural sector, creating conditions for more resilient productive agricultural systems.
To this end, the competent services of the two Ministries will take all necessary actions to promote, monitor and implement the actions that have been decided.
In the context of his visit to Athens, Gregoriou also made a working visit to the offices of EYDAP (Capital Water and Sewerage Company) in Galatsi, where he met with the Managing Director, Charalambos Sachinis and the General Director of Water Supply, Georgios Karagiannis.
During the meeting, information was provided on the practices implemented by EYDAP in the water supply sector. Gregoriou was given a tour of the Water Treatment Plant in Galatsi.
The Permanent Secretary also visited the facilities of the Wastewater Treatment Center in Psyttalia, where he was informed about the operation and the important activities carried out, mainly the treatment of wastewater and sludge, the production of biogas from the treatment of sludge and its full utilization for energy production.