In a statement issued on 27 May, the President of the Italian agricultural organisation Coldiretti, Ettore Prandini, welcomes the fact that the Vice-President of the Council of Ministers, Matteo Salvini, has “announced his intention to seek Agriculture” for the Italian Commissioner's portfolio in the next European Commission to take office in early November.
Matteo Salvini is the Secretary General of the Lega, whose list obtained more than 34% of the votes in the European elections. Italy, “the leading EU country for its agricultural added value, but also for the quality of its products”, has not held the Agriculture portfolio in the College of Commissioners since 1972, when it was entrusted to Carlo Scarascia Mugnozza, says Coldiretti.
An Italian commissioner in this position “would occupy a prominent place in European policies, as agriculture is the most integrated sector in the Union and represents the most important item in the Community budget”, says Ettore Prandini. This function is “also strategic for trade agreements”.
“If we only take into account the results and quality of our sector, there should be no major obstacle to the appointment of an Italian as the next European Commissioner for Agriculture”, said Massimiliano Giansanti, President of the Confagricoltura agricultural organisation. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)