Livestock farmers threaten chaos ahead of high-profile EU informal summit in Cyprus

Groups of livestock farmers in Cyprus are ramping up pressure over the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, warning of escalated protests unless authorities immediately halt mass cullings of infected animals. The farmers’ actions could disrupt a high-profile EU event: the Informal Meeting of Heads of State or Government, set for 23-24 April 2026 in Nicosia and Ayia Napa.

As of the latest reports, more than 52,000 animals – roughly 10% of the island’s livestock – have been culled. The virus has spread into western Nicosia, prompting urgent containment efforts aligned with EU protocols. Farmers argue these measures are ineffective without a unified island-wide strategy, particularly given differing approaches in the north.

Following a protest in Nicosia on Sunday, farmer groups have vowed to block major roads on Thursday, 23 April – the opening day of the summit – if their demands are not met. Planned disruptions include closures at the Rizoelia roundabout, as well as at Larnaca airport and port. Organisers have explicitly warned that such blockades would create “chaos” on a day of major significance for Cyprus, which is currently holding the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU (January–June 2026).

The informal summit, chaired by European Council President António Costa and hosted by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, will bring together EU leaders to discuss the bloc’s response to a challenging geopolitical landscape. Key agenda items include Russia’s war in Ukraine (with an expected online address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy), de-escalation efforts in the Middle East, freedom of navigation, energy prices, and high-level talks with regional partners from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Leaders will also provide political guidance on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (EU budget) for 2028–2034. It marks the first time Cyprus has hosted the full gathering of EU heads of state or government.

Growing concerns over politicisation and north-south divide

Cyprus’s Agriculture Ministry and scientific experts are increasingly alarmed by the politicisation of what they describe as a veterinary and public health emergency. Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou told ANT1 on Monday that European experts had warned how political interventions by non-specialists were hindering effective crisis management. Academic members of the epidemiological task force are now preparing public statements to counter circulating misinformation.

Farmers highlight the situation in the north, where Turkish Cypriot authorities primarily rely on vaccination rather than culling, effectively choosing to “live with the virus.” They insist that without a common strategy across the entire island, the disease cannot be eradicated. Agricultural organisations, which did not join the protests to avoid spreading the virus, have formally requested exemptions from mandatory EU culling rules, citing the island’s unique divided status. An earlier appeal to EU Health and Animal Welfare Commissioner Oliver Várhelyi was rejected on 13 March, but groups plan to revisit the issue next week in meetings of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Compensation Committee and the Halloumi Committee.

Bicommunal and parliamentary efforts

Progress on a joint approach continues through the Bicommunal Technical Committee on Health. After a 17 March meeting, the Turkish Cypriot side has agreed to reconvene the Veterinary Subcommittee next week to discuss aligning with EU standards. Leonidas Phylactou, the Greek Cypriot co-chair, emphasised in a Politis radio interview that EU-level pressure and funding conditions for the north will be crucial for a unified response.

Meanwhile, the House Agriculture Committee will hold an emergency session on Thursday to question officials from Veterinary Services, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Interior on outbreak management and support for affected farmers.

Stricter measures and compensation timeline

On Monday, the epidemiological task force reviewed tougher restrictions to limit human-driven virus transmission after the disease breached the original containment zones. Details of the new measures remain confidential for now

.Compensation for farmers – covering both initial advances and final payments – is expected to be finalised within the next 7–10 days, as the 90-day EU-mandated payment window nears its end.

The farmers’ planned protests come at a sensitive moment for both public health efforts and Cyprus’s international profile during its EU Presidency. Authorities continue to stress that coordinated, science-based action – combined with north-south cooperation – is essential to protect the island’s livestock sector and prevent further economic damage.

The original article by EUalive’s partner Politis can be found here.

Caption: Groups of livestock farmers in Cyprus are ramping up pressure over the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, warning of escalated protests unless authorities immediately halt mass cullings of infected animals [Politis]