14 European election Italian candidates from different parties sign a document critical of European agriculture

Brussels – Several political party figures, even opposing ones on the parliamentary chessboard, signed a 2024-2029 policy document on the future of agriculture before the upcoming European elections (June 6-9). Drafting the program was Competere, an Italian think tank that wants to promote sustainable food and global trade. The document aims to protect the food market and European farmers. Exponents of Fratelli d’Italia, the Democratic Party, Forza Italia, the United States of Europe, Action, and the Südtiroler Volkspartei have decided to join.

“The last five years have seen a systematic marginalization of farmers, entrepreneurs, agricultural workers, and researchers, who have been singled out as responsible for climate and health crises,” reads the program released by Competere. According to the think tank, climate change is an undeniable challenge that the European Union, and humans more broadly, must address, but “the answer cannot be to penalize the agriculture and food sector, but to place it at the center of strategies for change.” In addition, Competere points the finger directly at the European Commission accused of “ideologism, emotionalism, and lack of pragmatism,” allegedly leading to a “utopian view of the world at the expense of a holistic approach to problems.”

One of the points of controversy is the impact of measures combating climate change on the economy, judged as a negative. According to Competere, the EU’s decisions increase the economic gap between the 17 Member States and global competitors such as the United States, China, and India. The document signed by the European Parliament candidates argues that the EU’s implementation of green measures has been counterproductive as, in a bid to follow ideological measures, it has caused: “desertification of the countryside, closure of farms, relocation of food companies out of Europe, and forced consumers to opt for lower quality or more expensive food from abroad.”

The think tank has put together a list of priorities and proposals divided into three areas — agriculture, business, and health — to overcome this impasse. A key point is the search for more investment in the agri-tech sector because it would allow Europe to improve the productivity of its crops and, at the same time, mitigate the impact of climate change. In parallel, it is necessary to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the sector, also economically, seeking new business models for regenerative agriculture.

Signing the program are 14 candidates for the European elections from all constituencies and different lists: for United States of Europe Alessandro Cecchi Paone, Gianluca Carlo Misuraca, and Giorgio Pasetto. For Action were Caterina Avanza and Paola Fanfrillo Manganiello. Signing for Fratelli d’Italia were Carlo Fidanza, the head of the delegation to the European Parliament, and candidates Antonella Argenti and Giovanna Giolitti.  Giampiero Avruscio, MEP Salvatore De Meo, and delegation leader Flavio Martusciello signed for Forza Italia. For the Democratic Party, Angela Quaquero and MEP Alessandra Moretti signed the program. Finally, the document was also signed by Herbert Dorfmann, MEP in the European People’s Party and member of the Südtiroler Volkspartei.