The strengthening of food safety measures, the proposed revision of the Geographical Indications regime, the revision of the land use regulation and the request by twelve countries, including Italy, for an exceptional temporary support to be activated in the rural development (EAFRD) in response to the ongoing crisis and its impact on agricultural production systems and food security. These were the topics at the center of the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers held today in Luxembourg.
The Minister of Agricultural Policies, Stefano Patuanelli, who spoke at the Council table, underlined Italy's support for the revision of the regulation on land use on the subject of climate neutrality, known by the acronym Lulucf, highlighting that in the face of the period emergency that we are facing, however, we must not stop looking to the future.
As for the issue of food security and the situation of agricultural markets in Europe in the light of the war conflict in Ukraine, which has exacerbated an already difficult context due to the problems caused by the Covid pandemic, drought, livestock diseases and energy costs already in increase before the conflict, the Minister stressed the need to make available to farmers all the extraordinary tools to support their productive activities which are so fundamental for the life of European citizens. In fact, attention must be paid to both today and tomorrow, continuing in the wake of what has already been done with the pandemic thanks to the temporary aid framework. Agriculture and its activities of sowing and harvesting agricultural raw materials both in Ukraine and in the European Union must be safeguarded, for the benefit of European consumers and those of the most fragile countries, in order to avoid food poverty.
Italy therefore supports Croatia's proposal which asks to re-propose an extraordinary rural development measure, already used during the Covid-19 pandemic. Through this measure, Member States will be able to use rural development resources (2021 and 2022 years) to mitigate the consequences of increases in production inputs, up to a maximum of 5% of the EAFRD (European Fund for Rural Development) resources allocated in the period. 2014-2022.
Finally, Patuanelli reiterated Italy's opposition to the EU Commission's proposal for the Regulation on Geographical Indications.