Brussels, 04/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - In a press release published on Tuesday 4 October, the European Coordination Via Campesina deplores the fact that, in 2011, the EU has granted €58 million in structural funds to the Calabria region (towns of Rosarno, Gioia Tauro and San Fernando, Italy) for investment in recreational pursuits (a sports centre, a swimming pool, tennis courts, etc) “whereas the situation of small-scale farmers and of thousands of seasonal workers in this area is constantly deteriorating”.
The European Coordination Via Campesina points out that, in 2010, a major revolt took place in that region of Calabria, ignited by the bad social conditions workers had to put up with. In one month, thousands of migrants who work and live in the area will begin the orange harvest. In some places, social housing programmes have been initiated to house these people but this is still a minority and housing often resembles ghettos, Via Campesina states with concern. The organisation challenges this choice of investment for recreational activity when a “large part of the peasant and agricultural worker population remains 'forgotten' by the public institutions”. Furthermore, it demands that the EU establish a principle of social conditionality for EU funding, and a control mechanism based on respect of labour laws. (LC/transl.jl)