Double initiative
Extension of the current hunting and wildlife plan of theEmilia Romagna until the approval of the new plan, discussion of which began last week. This is provided for by two amendments, approved by a majority, to the proposed regional law on agriculture proposed by the regional council and approved today by the Economic Policies Committee chaired by Luca Giovanni Quintavalla. With the center-left voting in favor and the center-right abstaining, the committee approved the entire bill, which now moves to the Legislative Assembly for discussion and a final vote. The decision to extend the Wildlife Hunting Plan through two amendments was criticized by the Brothers of Italy party, whose representatives, Marta Evangelisti, Priamo Bocchi, and Fausto Gianella, called it an unconventional choice, not supported by a technical-legislative opinion. For this reason, the Brothers of Italy party and the Civic Network did not participate in the vote on the amendments. Paolo Calvano (Democratic Party) responded to this position, arguing for the validity of the choice made, which thus ensures continuity of the wildlife plan with consequent benefits.
Other amendments
The new law provides over €12 million for support for agricultural, livestock, and fishing businesses, and updates to beekeeping regulations to protect the Italian bee and the entire sector. In addition to extending the wildlife hunting plan, the commission also approved other amendments, including one by Marco Mastacchi (Rete Civica), sub-amended by Nicolò Bosi (Democratic Party), to extend the funding currently provided for the lagoon areas to include the Comacchio sub-lagoon canals and inland areas, and one by Fausto Gianella (FdI) to strengthen the Legislative Assembly's oversight of the new law's implementation.
What the new law provides and the position of the social partners
A review of the bill reveals that, with a total spending commitment of €12 million, €5,7 million will be available for the main supply chains by 2026: over €3,5 million for crop production (€1,5 million for sugar beet cultivation, €700 for potato cultivation, €500 for rice cultivation, €700 for pear cultivation, and €150 for olive growing); €640 for livestock farming (€500 for livestock genetic improvement, €100 for the purchase of vaccines to combat the spread of bluetongue, and €40 for the purchase of bulls); €1,5 million for fishing and aquaculture (€1 million for the restoration of clam farms and €500 for combating anoxia affecting the sector).
Areas of intervention
Significant changes are being made to beekeeping, a sector recognized as playing a central role in safeguarding biodiversity. The bill includes significant amendments to the 2019 regional law on beekeeping. These changes aim to align regional legislation with the new national framework for identification and registration systems, strengthen the protection of Apis mellifera ligustica, Italy's native bee, and simplify the overall regulatory framework. Specifically, these changes include an updated definition of an abandoned apiary; a ban on nomadism in buffer zones for the fertilization of queen bees of the ligustica subspecies; alignment of health inspections with the national plan; and a more comprehensive system of sanctions, which also expands the warning mechanism. These changes address requests from industry associations within the regional beekeeping committee. Funding is also provided for monitoring, research, studies, dissemination of scientific knowledge, and specialized services for the development and protection of regional beekeeping.
Category associations
During the committee debate, the bill was also the subject of opinions from trade associations: representatives of Coldiretti, Legacoop Estense, Agricoltori Italiani, Conapi, Federpesca, and the Po Delta and Cesenatico fishermen's associations expressed their support, while the Reggiana Cattle Breeders Association and Agricoltori Attivi Italiani called for maximum attention to how the allocated resources are used to ensure that regional funds are not underused (source: Emilia Romagna Region).
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