Fruit and vegetable crops in Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Emilia Romagna seriously damaged by an exceptional bout of frost. Farmers seek support from the Commission

Question for written answer  E-002060/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Mara Bizzotto (ID)

Between February and March 2021 farming in Italy experienced a period of drought and temperatures that were higher than the seasonal average, which led to early flowering of many fruit and vegetable crops, making them more vulnerable to bad weather.

On 7 and 8 April 2021 an exceptional bout of unseasonable frost destroyed a number of crops in Italy. The regions of Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia and Emilia Romagna were particularly badly hit.

Caused by temperatures that fell as low as minus nine degrees, the frost devastated crops of apricots, cherries, strawberries, apples, pears, peaches, kiwi fruit, bell peppers, tomatoes, courgettes and other vegetables, as well as damaging cereals and vines (including in Prosecco vineyards).

In Veneto initial estimates put losses to fruit production at between 80 % to 100 %.

It should be noted that bouts of frost and other bad weather events have become more frequent and more severe in recent years, causing thousands of farms huge losses and endangering the continuation of fruit and vegetable farming in Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia and Emilia Romagna.

Fruit and vegetable production is, moreover, an important sector in the Italian economy.

In view of this:

Will the Commission earmark urgently emergency funds for the Italian fruit and vegetable production sector, to support it as it recovers from the damage caused by this bad weather?

Will it bring in new financial support measures for farmers, to ensure they are better protected against rising meteorological and climate risks?