Debate contributions by Francesco VENTOLA

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner Hansen, today we are talking about those who keep our countryside alive, those who work every day with effort, pride and dignity to bring food to our tables: European farmers. Farmers do not ask for favors, they do not ask for alms, but they ask for listening and they demand respect. They ask to be able to continue working without being crushed by a cumbersome and irreplaceable bureaucracy and often unfair competition coming from other continents. We believe in a Europe that defends its food sovereignty, that values European products, that protects small farms and ensures fair prices and transparent contracts throughout the supply chain. A Europe that understands that environmental sustainability does not exist and cannot exist without economic and social sustainability. A Europe that fosters incentives and supports generational renewal and invests in young people and women who want to cultivate the land. Defending farmers means defending our roots, our identity, our freedom to choose what to put in our fields and on our tables. Commissioner, to represent the home of all, Europe must be strong, fair and loyal to those who feed it and put the dishes on the table.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the European Citizens' Initiative is an extraordinary tool for our fellow citizens to be able to put forward initiatives, proposals, ideas and suggestions with regard to the legislative process that is the responsibility of the Commission and of us. Also in the field of cohesion policy, no later than 31 March this year, more than 1 270 000 signatures were deposited by citizens of the European Union, from eight different countries, who proposed a series of initiatives concerning the possibility of greater cohesion in our regions, the elimination or overcoming of differences between regions, the enhancement of linguistic minorities and all the socio-cultural activities that identify each region. An extraordinary instrument, as I said before, because it is somewhat one of the pillars of our European Union, because it allows citizens to express themselves. We have the burden and the honor of being able to make these initiatives our own. Well, on 25 June 2025, the REGI Committee, together with the LIBE, CULT and PETI Committees, launched a process of comparison. There were several hearings, which were also attended by members of the management. Many very interesting ideas have emerged, which I believe can certainly do well and give important suggestions to the new cohesion policies. Today's debate offers us another opportunity, not only to be able to listen to the Commissioners, to be able to define what they may be, I do not want to say the conclusions, but certainly a fruitful debate that can indicate the right way to eliminate and promote greater equality. Eliminating inequalities between different regions is one of the objectives of cohesion policy, and I would also add that it creates the conditions for all citizens to be able to choose their own future, where they can live and not be forced to leave their homeland. I conclude: It is certainly an extraordinary instrument of democracy that makes our European Union even more important.

Madam President, Commissioner, Vice-President, ladies and gentlemen, the report on competition policy for 2024 contains a number of acceptable elements which also show how necessary and improcrastinable it is to take decisive action. Europe needs to be more determined against external pressures – industrial crisis, digital transformations – and, contrary to what has happened so far, we need a policy of concrete and real simplification that truly values our single market and the European productive fabric. We would have liked a stronger signal against elusive practices, the migration of offices to tax havens, including intra-European ones. It is necessary to ensure a level playing field for all businesses in the internal market, strengthen customs controls, step up the fight against counterfeiting and defend intellectual property and protected geographical identifications. Even in digital, we must strive for strategic autonomy and ensure fair competition through investments that allow all operators to no longer be slaves to large platforms. Europe needs strong instruments, few clear rules and a common industrial vision, which support and enhance human capital, the experience of those who grew up in the common market and the strength and ingenuity of our young people.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, European agriculture is facing a fundamental turning point: It is time to recognize the true value of farmers not as polluters but as guardians of the land, defenders of nature and guarantors of our food security. This is the vision we must embrace: an agriculture that produces healthy food, respecting the environment. Farmers deserve a common agricultural policy that rewards those who work the land, guaranteeing a fair income, free from forms of exploitation and speculative logic. Citizens have the right to eat food that is good for their health. Therefore, even imported products must comply with our own quality standards. We demand the application of the concept of reciprocity: This will help to create a fairer market. We must encourage all forms of innovation that science makes available to us to improve the productivity of European agriculture. Our priority must be strategic food autonomy, which guarantees its safety and independence. Commissioner Hansen, this is the way we propose to ensure a prosperous future for the agricultural sector and, above all, a healthy diet.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the certified shortage of 1.2 million healthcare workers in the European Union requires urgent and effective strategic and structural action. The EU4Health programme has proven insufficient. Health workers continue to face unsustainable workloads, in the face of inadequate wages and difficult working conditions, while entire areas turn into health deserts lacking adequate staff and facilities. It is necessary to recognise decent wages and improve working conditions, which are essential to ensure greater protection of public health. However, the measures currently put in place by the Commission not only prove to be ineffective, but even tend to favour the migration of workers from public to private health, which is becoming increasingly attractive. In addition, we are witnessing the inert migration of health workers abroad, which evidently offers better opportunities. We must no longer waste time with empty statements and empty strategies. Health is a fundamental right and as such must be guaranteed. The Commission must now act decisively and responsibly.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, since the COP16 report, desertification and drought represent not only environmental emergencies, but also social and economic threats to entire regions. The data provided underline that more than 40% of global land is degraded and that drought causes annual economic losses in excess of 300 billion. In Italy, this translates into a crisis that mainly affects the agricultural sector. It is becoming increasingly necessary and indispensable the construction of infrastructures that optimize the system of collection, conservation and distribution of water resources. It is necessary to invest in wastewater reuse plants. No drops should be dispersed: We can't afford it. We can no longer accept false ideological environmental policies, which block the implementation of innovative and truly sustainable projects on the ground. We must take all the paths that science and technology offer us to face the risk of desertification. Colleagues, let's not just talk about the problems: Let us act to solve them and do so with determination, for the good of our territories, Europe and future generations.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, agriculture is an act of love. The women and men who cultivate the land may have their hands calloused and ruined, but it is through their work, done with determination and passion, that the survival of mankind is guaranteed. The farmer does not have a predefined working time, does not stamp a card. He and the hoeing earth are one and despite the many adversities, natural disasters, market crises and climate change, he is there, to safeguard creation. We must commit ourselves concretely so that this love does not vanish and, on the contrary, is handed down from father to son. We can and must do this concretely, allocating more resources to ensure a fair income and greater protections for all those people who are dedicated to the cultivation of the land and to whom I say: Thank you! Commissioner Hansen, I come from an Italian region – Puglia – where agriculture is not only the primary activity, but also means culture, sociability and family. And I trust in your commitment to improving the working conditions of farmers.