The operating of ski lifts is a key economic activity in mountain areas. The closure of these facilities as part of the effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus represents a serious blow to the skiing sector as a whole.

Beyond the Alps, Tuscany also has ski resorts. The most important of these in terms of size and volume, Abetone, has some 50 km of pistes served by 22 ski lifts.

While at the local level the Region of Tuscany has not made any proposals in support of the sector and at the national level guidelines have only recently been drawn up to consider allowing ski lifts to reopen, at the European level the press is reporting how countries such as Austria are actively looking to reopen their facilities. This constitutes a serious and unjustifiable divergence between countries.

In the light of this, will the Commission:

– examine this issue and seek a solution that aligns the plans of the various national governments, thereby minimising the impact of any differences between countries?

– look into the possibility of compensating the skiing industry and associated sectors affected by the exceptional lockdown measures?