Tractors, von der Leyen: “I will propose withdrawal of the Sur regulation on pesticides”
There European Commission is preparing to withdraw the proposed regulation Sur (Sustainable Use Regulation), aimed at promoting the sustainable use of pesticides in agriculture, which has become a reason for political “polarization”. This was announced by the president of the EU executive Ursula von der Leyenspeaking at the plenary of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
“Only if ours farmers they will be able to live off the land – he says von der Leyen – they will be able to invest in the future. And only if we achieve our climate and environmental goals together will farmers be able to continue making a living. Our farmers know this well. We should put more trust in them. For example: the Commission proposed Surwith the noble objective of reducing the risks of chemicals for plants“.
READ ALSO: Farmers, the problem is pesticides: they march against multinationals
“But the proposal Sur – he continues – it has become a symbol of polarization. It was rejected by the European Parliament. There is no further progress even within the Council. This is why I will propose to the college to withdraw this proposal. But obviously the theme remains. And, to move forward, we need more dialogue and a different approach. On this basis, the Commission could put forward a new proposal, with a much more mature involvement of interested parties, “he concludes.
Tractors: Coldiretti, stop von der Leyen saves 30% Made in Italy
The withdrawal of the proposed regulation on the sustainable use of pesticides (Sur) saves 30% of the production at the basis of the Mediterranean diet, from wine to tomatoes, put at risk by the unrealistic objective of halving the use of agrochemicals. This is what the president of the Coldiretti Ettore Prandini in commenting on the announcement by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen of the rejection of the proposal in his speech to the European Parliament after the large Coldiretti demonstration in Brussels on the occasion of the EU Summit.
A response to the protest of farmers from the south and north of the European Union, from Coldiretti to the Spaniards of Asajafrom the Portuguese of Postal Code to the Belgians of the Fwa up to the young farmers which was followed by the meeting between the president of Coldiretti and the Von der Leyen. The provision – he underlines Coldiretti – would have had a devastating impact on agricultural production in the European Union and nationally, effectively opening the doors to imports from non-EU countries that do not respect the same standards in terms of the environment, health and respect for workers' rights.
READ ALSO: Tractor protests in Europe and Italy, farmers against the CAP: that's what it is
We need a realistic approach to sustain the commitment of agriculture towards the sustainability which has already led Italy to be classified as the greenest in Europe with the largest number of agricultural companies that cultivate organically on approximately 1/5 of the total agricultural area and the record cut in a decade of 20% on the use of pesticides that remain essential to guarantee the health of crops.
Not by chance in Italy – continues the Coldiretti – over eight out of ten products dangerous for food safety come from abroad (86%) based on the calculations of Rapid alert system (Rassf), Of the total of 317 alarms detected in 2022 – highlights Coldiretti – 106 arose from imports from other European Union states (33%) and 167 from non-EU countries (53%) and only 44 (14%) concerned products with national origin.
According to the study of European Commission moreover – he adds Coldiretti – “the greatest impacts on yield would have occurred in crops that have limited relevance, such as grapes, hops and tomatoes”. A real absurdity if you consider that the tomato is the most consumed vegetable in Europe, as is and in its derivatives (puree, pulp, peeled tomatoes, sauces…), and grapes, both table and transformed (into wine, juices, distillates…) is a production for which Europe holds the world record. Without forgetting that Italy, which competes with France for the role of the world's leading wine producer and the leading producer of tomato derivatives in Europe, it would be the most damaged country by a crazy European policy distant from the realities of businesses and consumers.
“The battle to guarantee dignity and fair income to Italian farmers does not stop” specifies the president of the Coldiretti Ettore Prandini in underlining that no cut to the economic resources of the company will be accepted Common agricultural policy (CAP) to farmers since today it is necessary to ensure the food autonomy of European citizens and encourage generational turnover. From this perspective, it is not even possible for the enlargement of the Union to include Ukraine to be paid for by agricultural companies.
READ ALSO: Trucks loaded with foreign wheat in Puglia, anger of farmers in Manfredonia
We then need to cancel it definitively – he reiterated Prandini – the absurd obligation to leave land uncultivated which undermines the productive capacity of our agriculture and paradoxically favors imports of food products from abroad which do not respect the same rules as European ones in terms of food safety, the environment and respect for rights of workers. A striking case is Mercosur, the trade agreement with South American countries which must be rejected. Hence the request to introduce the criterion of reciprocity of production rules.
The case of uncultivated land is only one of the constraints it gives Timmermans onwards they tried to insert – he denounced Prandini – with rules that penalize the EU's production capacity and burden the work of farmers, unfairly seen as polluters, while they are the ones who guarantee the protection of the environment. But they also serve, second Coldirettifair and transparent markets, encouraging supply chain agreements and prohibiting sales below production costs.
Agriculture, Salvini: “The EU is forced to take back its follies”
“Long live them farmers, whose tractors are forcing Europe to take back the follies imposed by multinationals and the left.” The vice-president of the Council says so, Matteo Salviniafter the EU's step back on legislative proposal on pesticides.
EU, Lollobrigida: “The Commission accepts our ideas on pesticides”
“The EU Commission accepts Italy's proposals. We need to further limit agrochemicals only when we are able to protect production with alternative methods. From day one we have opposed an ideological approach on the topic which would have had a devastating effect on production and very limited on the environment.” Thus the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, Francesco Lollobrigida. “It is clear and logical that eliminating essential medicines for plants, leaving them prey to insects or plant diseases, significantly reduces production if it does not eliminate it. If European consumption remains unchanged, it must supply, as a result, from third countries that do not respect any of the rules we impose on our farmers. Indeed, they produce using greater quantities of pesticides. In this way the effect on the planet's air and water is exactly the opposite of that declared. Italy has proposed to work, and has been at the forefront in this, on Tea to guarantee stronger and more resistant plants that can do without agrochemicals. The pragmatic policies of our Government in Italy and Europe are bearing their first fruits. Recovering from the disasters of years of policies disrespectful of agricultural production and work will take time. But the path taken is the correct one”, concludes the minister.
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