Farmers will be able to count on important financial resources in the next programming period 2021-2027, an expert's word, or rather one of the greatest experts in European agricultural policy: prof. Angelo Frascarelli , of the University of Perugia, guest together with prof. Attilio Scienza , of the University of Milan, international guru on the subject of wine and winemaking policies, of the special episode n. 100 of RadioVenetoAgricoltura (RVA), the “ radio che si si vedita ” - information service of the regional agency (remember that all the episodes of RVA, dedicated to interesting in-depth information on agricultural and environmental current affairs, are available on the Social YouTube and Facebook profiles, as well as on the website www.venetoagricoltura.org). RVA n. 100 , conducted by Mimmo Vita and Renzo Michieletto, addressed topics of absolute topicality, which deserved to be explored with two great experts: the difficult moment that is going through the wine sector and the future European financial framework linked to the agricultural world.
The professor. Scienza reiterated that the crisis in the wine market, especially in terms of quality, due to the closure of restaurants, bars and wine bars for Covid-19, must be contrasted not with defensive attitudes such as the mandatory distillation of three million hectoliters of wine, not with the green harvest of 100 thousand hectares of vineyards, but with positive strategies that look to the development of the sector, starting from the programming and promotion of our great wines. It also needs to do more communication and marketing. The professor. Frascarelli , on the other hand, dealt with the issue of the strategic role to which the agricultural sector and farmers will soon be called upon, a topic of absolute topicality, given that today it is being discussed (by videoconference) at the European Council level.
These are crucial weeks for the future and credibility of the European Union. In fact, by the end of July, the 27 Member States will have to give the green light to the Multiannual Financial Framework ( MFF ), including the resources that will be made available to EU policies for the next seven years, but above all the economic recovery of a Union hit hard by Covid-19 crisis. The European Commission has already presented its proposal, aligning a firepower of 1,100 billion euros. To these should be added the 750 billion of the "Next Generation EU", the operational tool of the new "Recovery Plan" for the economic recovery of the EU from the current crisis, of which 500 billion in the form of grants and 250 in the form of loans. Altogether 1,850 billion euros, in addition to the 540 billion destined for the measures already agreed in recent weeks - from "SURE" (layoff for Covid-19) to loans from the European Investment Bank - and to the modification of the current MFF to unlock additional 11.5 billion already in 2020. This is an unprecedented overall effort in the history of the European Union, which at the moment, however, still presents itself as a proposal - albeit already approved by the European Parliament - but for which it is awaits the green light by the 27 Member States by the end of July.
But how the sectors of agriculture, fishing, forests and "rurality" as a whole fit into the future European planning. It is these economic sectors deemed "strategic" that are experiencing a moment of great ferment and renewal. Just think that in the coming months the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will be approved and that farmers will be asked to play an important role in the two new " Farm to Fork " Strategies (in practice, from field to plate) and "Biodiversity 2030", cornerstones of the "European Green Deal", the agreement that should push Europe towards climate neutrality by 2050. For the success of these purposes, however, it will be crucial to establish both the commitment required of the agricultural sectors, of fishing and forestry, both (and above all) the impact that the "Farm to Fork" and "Biodiversity 2030" Strategies will have on these same sectors. European farmers and fishermen deserve a fair transition, predictable conditions and adequate financial resources; but how high are the resources that the European Union intends to make available to these specific sectors?
The Commission, in its proposal for an "enhanced" long-term European budget, has foreseen an increase for the agricultural chapter of no less than 9 billion euros (4 billion for the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund, or the CAP; and 5 billion for the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, or the RDPs). In addition, the Executive has also proposed to increase the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund by € 500 million . Lastly, an additional 15 billion will be made available for rural development within the framework of the "Next Generation EU" to further support rural areas, which play a vital role in the green transition and in the context of Europe's ambitious climate and environmental objectives. .
The Commission proposal therefore recognizes the strategic importance of the European agricultural sector and consequently the need to support farmers and the rural economy, it is now a matter of waiting for what the 27 Member States will decide to do.
