"Protests must be examined on a case-by-case basis, but respect for the law is something that can and must be demanded". Don't mince words Mario Monti, who directly from Brussels, at the end of Ecofin, intervened on the crisis caused by the blocking of lorries. The European Commission has also urged our country to resolve the situation: "The Italian Minister of the Interior, Anna Maria Cancellieri, assured the Vice President of the Commission Antonio Tajani, in a phone call, that the Italian government will take all necessary measures to end the blockades – reads a note from the commission -. Tajani expressed his concern about the possible interference of the blocs with the free movement of goods in the European Union. When such obstacles arise, Member States should take necessary and proportionate measures so that the free movement of goods is ensured within the territory of the Member State".
In the wake of these recommendations, the intervention of the prefects began in Italy. The first to take the field was that of Rome, Giuseppe Pecoraro, who through an ordinance decreed the stop to the gatherings of trucks at the toll booths at the entrance to the capital.
UNION: AFTER THE TRAGEDY OF ASTI STOP THE BLOCKS
Meanwhile Maurizio Longo, secretary general of Transport United, the main union of road hauliers to have called the national strike against the umpteenth increase in petrol and diesel prices, he has already declared a stop to the blockades. The decision came after this morning one victim was registered among the demonstrators. A lorry driver participating in the protest of the road hauliers of Asti (Massimo Crepaldi, aged 46) was run over and killed by a lorry. At the wheel, a German citizen who was not participating in the demonstration.
“Our colleague was there to defend our work – said Longo -. We have decided to continue, but we have made an appeal: no more forcing, tensions and blocks. Those who want to circulate, circles, we will try to represent their interests too. But we can't back down." However, United Transport does not control all the blocks scattered throughout the country, which amount to almost a hundred. “Our principals are registered with the Police Headquarters – Longo specified -. Obviously where they are not registered we cannot take responsibility because they are not ours".
At the moment Italy is still blocked: inspired by the Sicilian movement of pitchforks, hundreds of lorries continue to clutter up roads and highways from Piedmont to Calabria.
GUARANTEE FOR STRIKES: RISK OF SANCTIONS EVEN FOR COMPANIES
“You have to claim your rights while respecting those of others. We are in an intolerable situation for modern civil society, a violation of the freedom of movement enjoyed by citizens". This is the comment by Roberto Alesse, president of the Authority guaranteeing strikes, who threatened "heavy sanctions" against wildcat strikes. Fines that “could eventually affect companies as well”.
FIAT FERMI PLANTS
The protests of the hauliers also caused the stop of the activity in the first and second shifts in the Fiat plants of Melfi, Cassino, Pomigliano, Mirafiori and Sevel Val di Sangro. The factories have been shut down since this morning due to roadblocks that prevented component deliveries.
CGIL, CAMUSSO: "THE LIMIT HAS BEEN EXCEEDED"
Harsh words against the methods of protest also came from Susanna Camusso: “As always, the protest is a chaos that must be organized so that it does not violate rights and does not prevent other citizens from being able to move – said the CGIL secretary -. In this case it seems to me that we have exceeded a positive relationship limit”.
COLDIRETTI: DAMAGES OF 50 MILLION A DAY
As for the economic aspects, according to Coldiretti, the blockade of road hauliers creates damage of vast proportions: "Every day 50 million euros of perishable food products are at risk a day including milk, flowers, fruit and vegetables - reads an analysis of the association – who leave the farms and stables every day to reach the markets and processing industries, and then arrive on the shelves of shops and supermarkets”.
