Xylella fastidiosa
14.4.2015
Question for written answer P-005890-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Nicola Caputo (S&D)
The EU Agriculture Council has decided to eradicate centuries-old olive trees in Puglia, which have been infected by the Xylella fastidiosa bacterium, even if there appears to be no certainty — which might warrant such a decision — that it is precisely this bacterium that is causing the infection.
Puglia is Italy's top region for number of agricultural holdings (275 000 — 17% of Italy's farms) and for farmland used (1 280 876 hectares) and has an impact of around 11% on the entire national agricultural sector.
France has unilaterally blocked imports of agricultural products from Puglia, extending the ban to 102 species of plant. The Commission has defined this as being ‘in line with EU legislation’, even though it represents a dangerous precedent which is liable to cause a damaging chain reaction across Europe.
At the request of the Commission, by 17 April the EFSA will have to issue a new scientific opinion on the causes of the infection.
Can the Commission therefore say:
- 1.what it intends to do, whilst respecting the powers of the Member States, to prevent any possible further import bans in Europe of agricultural products from Puglia;
- 2.what measures it intends to take to support, especially economically, the Puglian agricultural and olive oil sector, which is one of the Italian areas of excellence that is the most appreciated throughout the EU?