“The Brussels environmental policy is suicide. What happens in EU buildings is separate from the reality of entrepreneurs, breeders, farmers and residents. When farmers go to the squares and say: “we are not polluting the environment, we are engaged in agricultural production”, they are telling the truth, Francesco Giubilei, president of the Italian think tank ‘Nazione Futura’, said on Italian television La7.
Recently, there have been protests across Italy by farmers opposing the EU’s climate and agricultural policies, including high production costs. They also protest against importing products from outside the EU, where the same production rules that apply to European farmers are not respected. The publicist and president of the ‘Nazione Futura’ (‘Future Nation’) movement, Francesco Giubilei, commented on this issue. From December 2022 to June 2023, he also served as Special Advisor to the Italian Minister of Culture in the government of Giorgia Meloni.
EU policy against farmers
Brussels’ environmental policy is suicide. What happens in EU buildings is separate from the reality of entrepreneurs, breeders, farmers and residents. When farmers go to the squares and say to them: “we are not polluters, we are agricultural producers”, they are telling the truth.
– Giubilei said in the TV program ‘Coffee Break’ on Italian television La 7.
He recalled one of the cases involving Italian farmers.
What happens is that a Sicilian grower who grows oranges or lemons is sometimes forced to abandon these citrus fruits and let them fall from the trees because the costs of harvesting and production exceed the income on the market. At the same time, an Italian goes to any supermarket and finds oranges and lemons that come from Tunisia
– said the president of the Italian think tank.
Loss of jobs
Sometimes products in North African countries – for example olive oil – are produced without following the rules that apply in EU Member States. So it is also a legal problem
– he pointed out.
As Giubilei explained, “There are certain rules – regarding products, whether agricultural, livestock or timber – that apply here,” but are not enforced outside the EU. He pointed out that there is competition between European markets and those outside the Community.
This leads to job losses in the agricultural environment (…). Businesses and industries are closing in Italy and Europe. For example, jobs are being moved to Asia, but not only. In these countries, products are manufactured without respect for human rights, workers’ rights or climate legislation
– he said.
He pointed out that this happens in the case of Chinese companies.
China is the first country in the world in terms of CO2 production. Their products are transported to Europe and sold here
– noted the Italian publicist.
He ruled that “the protest of farmers, breeders and small and medium-sized entrepreneurs in European countries is correct.”
He also referred to the recent failure of the former Dutch EU commissioner.
A few weeks ago there were elections in the Netherlands in which Frans Timmermans, the father of the European Green Deal, stood as a candidate. They said that Timmermans would definitely win, that there would be a grand coalition, and that the right-wing Geert Wilders (Freedom Party) would ultimately win because the Dutch were tired of certain policies.
– Giubilei noted.
Peasants’ protest during the San Remo festival
A few days ago, Italian farmers demonstrated, among other things: in San Remo, where the famous music festival takes place. They wanted to express their demands on the stage of the Ariston Theater. However, the management of RAI television decided that their petition would be presented by the festival presenter.
From Friday to Saturday after midnight, presenter Amadeus, host of the 74th edition of the festival, watched on public television by millions of viewers, read on stage excerpts from the call of activists of agricultural movements present in San Remo.
They wrote: “We call for a clear law that guarantees a fair distribution of food along the entire agri-food chain, with mutual benefits for agricultural producers and consumers.”
We did not go to the squares to ask for help or benefits, but to guarantee fair compensation for the hard and irreplaceable work we do every day, allowing every citizen to eat every day
– they explained.
Today, much of the fruits of our labor are widely undervalued, with revenues far lower than the costs of production
– noted the farmers.
The petition’s authors stated: “We are therefore protesting to defend the dignity of farmers and to strongly demand that an appropriate value be assigned to our production.”
Without agriculture there is no life, no food sovereignty, no freedom
– the farmers emphasize in a statement read by Amadeus.
Italian farmers also recently protested in Rome. They have already announced a new demonstration next Thursday at Circo Massimo.
‘No specific decision in sight’
The leader of the movement “CRA agricoltori traditi (“betrayed farmers”) said on LA 7 that there are no specific changes towards farmers.
We know that it takes a long time to implement drastic land reforms. If we are confident that these changes will happen, that they will address these issues in a professional manner, and not just talk about them during the election campaign, then we will be ready for whatever needs to be done. However, if these issues are not addressed and there is no specific decision, which I absolutely do not see, the situation will become much worse.
– Danilo Calvani alarmed.
It’s like saying to someone who needs immediate surgery, “Maybe we’ll operate on you in five months.” After all, he needs immediate surgery and can recuperate in 5 months
– said the leader of the Italian peasant movement.
Likewise, no specific actions are visible in Polish politics. The head of the Polish government, Donald Tusk, spoke in Morąg on Sunday about the timing of possible changes in agriculture. His statements show that farmers cannot count on immediate support.
We have to find a solution. This solution will probably not be perfect. I will not say that within a week all the proposals you are talking about will be on the table and immediately implementable
– said Tusk, addressing the peasants.
Does this mean that while Polish farmers need immediate support, Tusk’s government will not intervene immediately? Or maybe this is just another eyewash?
READ ALSO:
– What impudence! Tusk provokes during the meeting: The transfer of power by those who lost the elections is not going smoothly
– Tusk is stirring in Morąg. In front of the audience… farmers’ protest. “We want to produce, not go bankrupt”; “You don’t eat without a Polish farmer”
– Farmers are enemies of Brussels. Zalewska: The EC needs land to build wind and photovoltaic parks
LA 7/wPolityce.pl/PAP/bjg
Source: wPolityce
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.