MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
19 March 2004
by Paolo Bartolozzi, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
on the recognition of 'historic markets'
B5‑0155/2004
European Parliament resolution on the recognition of 'historic markets'
The European Parliament,
– having regard to Rule 48 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the failure to recognise 'historic markets' is an issue which affects not only a significant number of Italian cities but also other cities within the European Union,
B. whereas there are no Community rules to protect this socio-economic feature (i.e. the historic markets) of the cities concerned,
C. whereas Florence is a suitable location for launching an initiative involving the recognition of historic markets, since no other EU city has such a concentration of markets in a public area within its historic centre (San Lorenzo, the Central Market, San Ambrogio, the Porcellino, and so on),
D. whereas a call for recognition has been issued by the various categories of itinerant trader and by their trade-union representatives in response to the fact that vendors' permits are temporary ones and cannot always be granted or renewed by local authorities,
E. whereas an established workplace is a necessary condition for making investments, securing loans and regularising the situation of staff,
F. whereas a 'historic market' designation could be a useful way of securing recognition of an economic feature which, for historical reasons and by virtue of its nature, has become a special characteristic of the city concerned,
1. Calls on the Commission to devise a specific legal framework designed to protect the feature described above, which is of value in social, economic, cultural and tourism terms;
2. Instructs its relevant committee to draw up a report on this topic.