Biosecurity cannot ignore political reality.
Health protection requires equal rules and clear accountability.
The outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Cyprus is more than an agricultural problem.
Αφθώδης Πυρετός: Η Ώρα της Πολιτικής Ευθύνης για Κύπρο και Ευρώπη
It is a political warning. It shows that the ongoing occupation of part of the island creates real and practical risks for the Republic of Cyprus and for the European Union.
The first confirmed cases were reported in the occupied areas. Soon after, cases appeared in the government controlled areas. There is still no final scientific proof about the exact source of the virus. However, the timeline is clear and it raises serious concerns.
In the Republic of Cyprus, European Union animal health rules are fully applied. In the occupied areas, EU rules do not apply. This creates a serious gap in protection. A virus like foot and mouth disease spreads very quickly. When there are two different systems on the same island, the risk increases.
This is not simply a technical issue. It is a structural weakness caused by the occupation. The European Union is aware of this situation. Yet it often treats it as a political sensitivity rather than a security problem. That approach leaves a member state exposed.
The role of Turkey must also be addressed. The occupied areas operate under strong Turkish influence. If animals are imported from countries where foot and mouth disease has appeared before, this increases the danger. Even without final proof, the responsibility to ensure strict health standards remains.
Cyprus also has responsibilities. The crisis revealed delays in detection and not enough preventive checks. The state must invest more in monitoring, staff and rapid response. Biosecurity must be treated as a national priority, not an afterthought.
At the European level, there must be clarity. A single market requires common standards. A member state cannot be fully protected if part of its territory operates outside EU rules. If this problem is ignored, similar crises may happen again.
Foot and mouth disease will eventually be controlled. But the bigger issue remains. As long as there are different rules on the same island, Cyprus will remain vulnerable.
This is not only a veterinary issue. It is a question of sovereignty, accountability and European responsibility.
- Dinos Toumazos is a co-founder and director of Agora Dialogue.