Cyprus Demands Targeted EU Support for Fisheries Ahead of Policy Review

House Speaker Annita Demetriou met with European Fisheries Commissioner Costas Kadis on Friday to push for stronger EU backing for Cypriot fishermen. Demetriou urged that the upcoming EU policy review include specific measures for the sector and called for regular parliamentary updates on how EU fisheries policy impacts Cyprus. Kadis confirmed the Commission had finished evaluating the Common Fisheries Policy and will conduct a focused review in the next cycle, citing the EU’s status as a maritime union with the world’s largest exclusive economic zone. Cyprus’s fishing associations have already demanded a ten‑year national plan to counter falling fish stocks, citing the industry’s brink of collapse. The government has modernised about 80 vessels since April 2024 and offers grant schemes covering up to 100 % of eligible costs for small‑scale coastal fishermen. Compensation for dolphin‑related catch losses has paid out €1 million so far, with total support projected to reach €4 million by 2029, and a separate payment scheme targets invasive lionfish removal.