Russia's embargo on imports from Europe, applied in retaliation for the economic sanctions suffered by the EU in the context of the Ukraine crisis, will cost Italian producers around 200 million euros. This was said today in Brussels by the minister for agricultural policies, Maurizio Martina, on the sidelines of a hearing in the Agriculture commission for the presentation of the priorities of the current Italian presidency of the EU Council.
“We are in the order of 200 million as regards the sectors already involved; then there is the impact that the block on imports can generate also due to second or third effects, with market rebounds that can occur in the European area - said the minister briefly meeting the press at the end of the hearing –. However, we certainly have funds and resources within the Community for crisis management. I think the Commission is right to activate these tools. Our commitment is to make useful, functional and rapid things that are truly dedicated to the most involved companies".
Just as the minister was speaking, the European Commissioner for Agriculture, Dacian Ciolos, also in Brussels, confirmed his intention to allocate an additional 30 million euros, which member states can co-finance with another 30 million euros, to the EU program of promotion of agricultural products for 2015 (which consists of 60 million EU funds plus 60 million national funds).
According to the European Commission, exports of Italian products directly affected by the Moscow embargo are worth 163 million euros, out of a total of agri-food exports to Russia equal to 705 million euros. The embargo affects European exports for a value of 5,1 billion euros, 43% of total agri-food imports from the EU, which is equal to 11,3 billion. The restrictive measures do not, for the moment, concern pasta and cereals, wines and spirits, olive oil and beverages.
“My request to the Commission – explained the Italian minister – is to activate all the tools that are already among the possible initiatives to accompany the most affected sectors in particular. I believe that Friday's Agriculture Council will also allow us to further strengthen these measures".
