The critical role of biodiversity as a key to boost European agriculture and overall economic growth was the key topic of discussions during the informal meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers which was held in Athens on Tuesday.

During the meeting, ministers joined by EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Dacian Ciolos exchanged views on how to turn the diversity of the sector in Europe into a competitive advantage for member states globally within the framework of the reformed Common Agriculture Policy (CAP).

On top of the agenda of talks on Tuesday was the Greek EU Presidency's initiative "aGRidiversity" which aims to promote European farming's contribution to the long-term development strategies of the Union's economy.

The farming sector and the farming-food industries in Europe today offer about 46 million job positions, 6 percent of the European GDP and approximately 24 percent of exports, while the potential for further growth is great, Greek Agriculture and Food Minister Athanassios Tsaftaris noted during a press conference after the end of the meeting.

"In the future, we will explore the policies and means which will highlight the significance of this diversity for the competitiveness of our agriculture which represents a great wealth source for the continent and offers employment to European citizens and youth," he stressed.

"Under the Greek Presidency thanks to the cooperation of the three European institutions, the Council, the Commission and the European parliament we were able to establish an enhanced framework in record time for promoting European products. We now have to add to the basic policies with supplementary policies which will allow member states to gain the greatest benefit to the benefit of farmers, rural development and sustainability," he added.

On his part, Ciolos underlined that diversification is a reality in European agriculture which could not been ignored in forming the next common policy platform for the sector.

"Diversification is a reality in terms of what we produce, how we produce it and how we market it. And this is a reality which has been enshrined in the newly reformed CAP. We look on diversity as something positive and not a constraint," he added. Endi

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