In a written answer to a parliamentary question from MEP Michalis Hadjipantela (PPE), Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi outlined the European Commission's response to the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in Cyprus, emphasising immediate containment measures and financial support for affected farmers. The Commission has adopted regionalisation measures to protect the EU internal market, shipped vaccine doses from the EU FMD antigen bank to Cyprus, and dispatched the EU Veterinary Emergency Team on-site. EU co-financing under the Single Market Programme is available for culling, compensation, cleaning, disinfection, and vaccine costs.
The answer, dated 23 April 2026, responds to Hadjipantela's priority question of 25 February 2026, which cited severe economic losses and threats to the primary sector. The MEP had asked about immediate containment measures, activation of exceptional market support under Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, and eligibility for EU co-financing under the Single Market Programme.
Concrete measures and funding streams Várhelyi listed several concrete actions already taken: monitoring, regionalisation via Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/484 of 25 February, EU coordination through the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, and training via Better Training for Safer Food resources. The Commission also maintains constant dialogue with trading partners to prevent unjustified trade bans.
On financial support, the answer points to co-financing under the Single Market Programme for emergency veterinary measures, including compensation for culled animals and cleaning. Additionally, under the CAP Strategic Plans Regulation, Member States may support investments in restoring agricultural production potential (Article 73) and introduce crisis payments for farmers (Article 78a), subject to formal recognition of the outbreak. Cyprus already implements an animal welfare intervention with biosecurity measures in pig and ruminant holdings, with a total public allocation of EUR 9.7 million.
Policy orientation and follow-up The Commission's response is concrete and operational, detailing existing instruments rather than announcing new ones. The tone is supportive, aiming to reassure stakeholders that EU mechanisms are activated. No specific timeline for disbursement is given, but the reference to immediate measures suggests rapid implementation. The answer signals that further exceptional support measures could be adopted to address trade restrictions. Institutional follow-up will likely involve continued monitoring and potential amendments to Cyprus's CAP Strategic Plan to unlock crisis payments.
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