Brussels, 10/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission confirmed on Thursday 10 December that it had opened infringement proceedings against Italy for that country's failure to take all the necessary measures to address the threat posed by the Xylella fastidiosa bacterium that has attacked olives trees in the Apulia region.
Enrico Brivio, the spokesperson for European Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis, confirmed that the Commission had sent a letter of formal notice to the Italian authorities on the measures to be taken to prevent the spread and eliminate the bacterium. After assessing the situation and analysing the initial information provided by an on-site audit carried out by the food and veterinary office (FVO) of the EU, “the Commission has formed the view that Italy has not fulfilled its obligations on eradication and monitoring of Xylella fastidiosa”. The FVO carried out its investigation in November and its findings will be presented at the next meeting of the EU's permanent committee on 16 and 17 December. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)