Bellanova: “more resources needed for European agriculture. New CAP and external convergence: Italy must be rewarded. The role of the regions in the strategic plan is fundamental "
Origin labeling, agricultural policy budget, CAP reform and the neuralgic role of the Regions: these are the issues addressed this morning during the bilateral meeting between Minister Teresa Bellanova and the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development of Poland Jan Ardanowski.
After reiterating that "the financial resources allocated to agriculture are insufficient because it is not possible to ask farmers for greater sacrifices, especially on the environmental side, without offering adequate resources in return", Minister Bellanova wanted to point out Italy's position with determination on external convergence.
"Italy has external convergence," said Bellanova, "in the 2014-2020 period it cost over 1 billion euros. Intolerable situation for farmers, who receive a decreasing contribution against increasingly onerous commitments, and for taxpayers. We remain clearly opposed to external convergence and if it is decided for a continuation, Italy must be compensated with a specific allocation on direct payments, to recover what has been lost in the current programming ".
Turning to the CAP Reform, Bellanova said: “We are concerned about the complex architecture of the Strategic Plan: for the difficulties of management and for the significant requirements in monitoring. We are concerned about the direct link between failure to achieve performances and recognition of expenditure. Solutions that simplify all levels must be found. And the role of the Regions must be absolutely valued. The Commission proposal does not satisfy us: the right balance must be found while safeguarding its competences ".
Another point addressed was the environmental ambition of the CAP and its contribution to the climate change front.
"We share a more environmentally oriented CAP," said Minister Bellanova. “But the current proposal is too unbalanced: excessive commitments for farmers on the side of climate change mitigation measures compared to no intervention to support adaptation measures. The Green Deal itself does not sufficiently deal with the problems of the agricultural sector, which in the transition phase must necessarily be accompanied by adequate support measures. For this reason, "Bellanova remarked," I consider it appropriate to allocate, as I have proposed, a small percentage of payments aimed at strengthening risk management measures, in particular for a national mutualisation fund. And a convergence with Poland in this direction would be important, because it could convince farmers to accept the ambitious challenge of a zero-emission Europe for 2050 ".
Finally, labeling of origin, a further topic on which Minister Bellanova invited the Polish associate to share, after recalling the joint document presented with France and other countries to the Agriculture Council in December, to make labeling mandatory in Europe. 'origin.
"Over a half million European citizens", concluded Minister Bellanova, "have called for greater transparency on the origin of food, overcoming or in any case delaying the implementation of the optional labeling regime. Important if Poland, given its great agricultural vocation, also chose to support this initiative. The mandatory labeling experiment launched on milk, cheese, processed meats, pasta, rice and tomatoes is giving very encouraging results.
It should go on without waiting for a new food scandal to do it ”.