Debate contributions by Stefano BONACCINI

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, despite the new geopolitical context, climate change, often unfair international competition, volatility in energy prices and raw materials, the farmers I meet do not ask for privileges, but only to be able to live off their work without being crushed by the market or bureaucracy. To respond to these requests, two primary objectives: support farm viability and strengthen cooperation between farmers in order to improve their bargaining power and competitiveness. The two texts we are discussing are an important first result: less bureaucratic constraints on farmers' shoulders and more force for cooperatives and producer organisations, including through mandatory written purchase contracts. But we also need new tools for a relationship of trust between agriculture and consumers. This is what we have done with the amendments to defend the agricultural origin of products such as vinegar and to extend to all food products the obligation to indicate on the label the origin of the raw material, allowing informed purchasing choices and supporting the added value of European agricultural production.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, after Trump's tariffs, our farmers risk paying the price of a trade dispute with which they have nothing to do, that of Chinese electric cars. Beijing's anti-dumping investigation into our export pigmeat is a retaliation that would hit a sector already severely tested by African swine fever and lead to the collapse of prices for all European farmers. Commissioner, we need urgent diplomatic action to avoid further market closures, demonstrating the unfoundedness of the Chinese accusations, and we need a massive plan to promote our agri-food excellence on foreign markets, as we have been asking for months and which President von der Leyen also acknowledged this morning as necessary in this House. Faced with giants working for a weaker Europe, we cannot isolate ourselves. On the contrary, we need to strengthen our geopolitical weight with agreements, for example with strategic areas from Mercosur to India; Only then can we move from an economic giant to a true global political giant.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the Draghi report has highlighted the crucial challenges facing the European Union and, in order to tackle them, an adequate multiannual budget is needed to finance policies that are more focused on the needs of citizens and businesses, starting with agricultural ones, which are engaged in an ambitious transition to more sustainable and competitive production models, but which have fallen by EUR 85 billion over the last seven years as a result of inflation. As the Committee on Agriculture, we call for an increase in the funds of the common agricultural policy to be indexed to inflation and for more efficient direct payments and effective tools to deal with crisis situations. We need European action, Commissioner, not new national plans managed exclusively between Brussels and the capitals, ousting local authorities and regions. Tomorrow's vote on these points represents a fundamental step if we want to continue to guarantee the Union's food sovereignty, dynamic rural communities and sustainable management of territories otherwise destined for abandonment.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the aggressiveness of the Trump presidency presents us with a watershed: strengthen Europe today or condemn it to irrelevance tomorrow? Overcoming the right of veto, moving from monetary union to a more effective political union, diversifying markets: some strategic choices that would allow Europe to be up to the challenge of competing with new and old powers. Faced with the threat of a protectionist weapon, we will have to respond together, without hesitation, to defend our interests and those of companies and workers who have the sole fault of knowing how to do well. Or do we call ourselves Patriots to serve the interests of others? If, on the other hand, each state thinks in a short-sighted way that it can manage on its own, it condemns itself to irrelevance. The impact of tariffs is indiscriminate. In Germany they would also have serious consequences, for example, on the Italian production system, or vice versa. We know which side we're on: with those who will strive for dialogue and reasonableness to prevail, in a world that needs to build bridges, certainly not to raise walls.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, droughts, fires and production practices that undermine soil fertility are also raising the risk of desertification here in Europe, where 13 countries, including mine and six others in the Mediterranean basin in particular, are affected by this phenomenon. To lose are food production and security, the social and economic fabric of the affected areas, and our farmers, the first victims of climate change that some, even today, deny. The European Union must play a leading role in this global challenge, by disseminating good practices in the countries most at risk – for example, precision irrigation or agricultural wastewater treatment and reuse – and with a European Water and Water Plan, which, with more resources for regional and rural development policies – I trust Commissioner Fitto by delegation – supports and simplifies investments for greater storage capacity – more efficient reservoirs, reservoirs and distribution networks – and authorises new crops that need less water. The next multiannual budget, then, must become an opportunity to improve some of the Union's policies and support citizens and businesses in combating climate change with deeds, not words.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, President Trump's inauguration speech confirms that propaganda and arrogance will accompany the new American presidency also in relations with the allies. Demands on NATO, the threat of introducing tariffs on European products to enrich Americans and doubts about support for Ukraine will have to push Europe to play ahead of global challenges, challenges for which the United States has always been a strategic partner. For this reason it is necessary to act without inferiority complexes and to restore a climate of collaboration and mutual trust, in the first place, for example, avoiding trade wars that would damage the territories most devoted to exports, such as Italy, and it would be useful to know what the government of my country thinks of this. The European Union, in any case, has shown that it is able to relaunch itself in times of difficulty and in the face of the alarm sounded by Trump, a further qualitative leap is needed. Only a Europe truly united by common economic, fiscal, social and defence policies, a stronger and quicker Europe to decide – that is why the right of veto must be overcome – will be able to compete on an equal footing with the United States and President Trump.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, finally, from next January, all European farmers will have to ensure compliance with the rules on workers' rights in order to receive the funds of the common agricultural policy. It has taken more than 60 years since the birth of the CAP but, thanks to the work of this Parliament together with the trade unions, we have come to a European constraint against the scourge of corporalism, giving the right value to virtuous work in order to protect the vast majority of honest farmers who find themselves in a situation of unfair competition. However, there is still a long way to go to ensure that not even one euro of public funds ever ends up in the pockets of those who exploit workers. That is why, Commissioner, we will not accept any backsliding on the social dimension in the future CAP and we are already working for the next multiannual budget to support, more and better, the profitability and competitiveness of the agricultural sector, including through investments that improve the conditions of all workers, on the basis of what has already been implemented in some territories, such as Emilia-Romagna, which I have led over the last ten years. It is a battle of civilizations, for an increasingly quality and fairer agricultural supply chain.

(IT) Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, regions and municipalities are caught between two trend alarming: the effects of the climate emergency, which affects them with impressive frequency, and a dramatic decline in the birth rate and increasingly elderly workforce. Faced with this scenario, local governments will have to remain protagonists in decisions and have more funds for social cohesion and sustainable development. In Emilia Romagna, which I have led for the last ten years, thanks to European funds, we are the only Italian region today to guarantee free kindergartens in all the municipalities of the inland areas, in the mountain municipalities. Just as we bought the Leonardo supercomputer, which in a second process 250 million billions of computing operations on behalf of the European Weather Center and the United Nations University. In this way, we will contribute to the study and the fight against climate change. We will become the main data valley European, attracting new businesses, but above all students, researchers and teachers from all over the world, through massive investments in new technologies and artificial intelligence. For these reasons, Commissioner, we stand with regions and cities to prevent them from taking crucial decisions for their future.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the floods that have hit the countries of Central Europe, to which our solidarity goes, are unfortunately a scene already seen for me and for Emilia Romagna - I was its president until a few months ago - hit last year by a devastating flood, never recorded in history, with 4 and a half billion cubic metres of water fallen, costing the lives of 17 people and causing damage of EUR 9 billion. Precisely in these hours, the tail of Cyclone Boris is again sending our land into a nightmare. To all citizens, affected populations and rescuers, a hug and gratitude for those who are doing their best to those in need. On that occasion, the European Union stood by its citizens, making available a billion and 200 million euros last January for reconstruction, funds that, incredibly, the Italian government has not yet granted to the municipalities and made available to the communities, waiting for answers for over a year. However, the increasing number of climate disasters – unbelievably some deny them – oblige us to reflect on broader solutions, especially for our farmers, the first victims and the first sector most affected by these devastations. Europe, dear Commissioner, needs ambitious choices if we really want a more resilient and just agriculture.