“On our food stuck overnight on the border with Croatia, after having partially foiled the risk of the blockade for those on the Brenner border, we have already activated our diplomatic network. The further reports received in these hours by the trade associations, the Veronesi Group and other important players are, as well as evidently alarmed, all too eloquent.
We are working together with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Transport so that our goods and our food products are not penalized by inadmissible requests and behavior.
And we are raising awareness with our Embassies, in agreement with the Farnesina, as well as, of course, the Prime Minister, the authorities of the other countries, of what is happening at the borders and also of the threat that the German large-scale retail trade may not accept goods if burdened by delays.
It is necessary and urgent that the European Commission calls on all member countries to respect the rules of the single market and to sincere collaboration so that behaviors of this nature, even if assumed by individual distribution chains, do not translate into unfair practices and competition, putting at risk the our products - above all the fresh chain - and our companies, already burdened by an exceptional situation of criticality.
We have worked tirelessly in recent weeks to ensure the proper functioning of the food supply chain, ensuring the survival of businesses and workers as far as possible. We expect Europe, considered as the coronavirus emergency to be worldwide, fully understand this effort. The words of Commissioner Von der Leyen, we are all Italian, authorize us to believe it ”. So the Minister Teresa Bellanova.