The Ministry of the Interior has launched a comprehensive operation to identify truckers who are illegally operating roadblocks that are obstructing traffic, particularly in Campania. According to reports, 1,339 have been identified, 71 reported, and 242 administratively fined . Last night , the Ministry of the Interior deployed escorts for numerous vehicles, 500 in Campania alone, ensuring the smooth running of many loading and unloading operations. This evening, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi convened a meeting with the prefects and police chiefs of the affected provinces, also to urge maximum vigilance against possible criminal infiltration.
Yesterday, the government pledged an immediate commitment of €480 million, with the promise of reaching over €1 billion. However, roadblocks for truckers continue in Calabria, Puglia, and Campania. Sicilian trucks, however, have been lifted. Traffic jams and disruptions this morning occurred on the main highways in Campania, and the airports in Crotone and Reggio Calabria were left without fuel for aircraft.
And there's alarm for supermarkets. "Federdistribuzione has welcomed the outcome of yesterday's meeting between Transport Minister Matteo Salvini and the road haulage associations, which led to the identification of an initial set of solutions to address the difficulties of a sector severely impacted by rising fuel costs." This was stated in a statement by the association, which emphasized that "a highly critical situation remains in the regions of Southern Italy, particularly in Puglia, Calabria, and Campania, where the blockade of goods traffic not only continues, but is further worsening in many areas."
Deliveries are suffering severe repercussions, and in many cases, goods are stuck in distribution centers, unable to reach stores. The consequences are particularly severe for perishable products, many of which—the Federdistribuzione statement continues—are now unusable, resulting in growing economic damage and unacceptable food waste. The situation is causing significant disruption to supermarkets and retail outlets, which are experiencing increasingly widespread shortages of products on their shelves. If this situation were to continue, there is a risk that many businesses will have to close, with inevitable repercussions for workers as well. The critical issues also affect the entire agri-food supply chain. Many agricultural producers are experiencing enormous difficulties in delivering their crops and, in many cases, risk losing entire productions due to the inability to transport them to their destination markets.
The registered road haulers' associations also urgently call for decisive and immediate action from Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi to lift the measures that have been blocking the South for days, with unsustainable impacts both for the sector itself and for the entire community's supply system, severely penalizing citizens and businesses. "Continuing to block the country is no longer justifiable after the government has reopened dialogue with the sector and made important commitments, in line with the agreement reached with Palazzo Chigi, to provide immediate liquidity to road haulage companies and identify the necessary measures to address the current situation," state Anita, Cna/Fita, Confartigianato trasporti, Fai, Fedit, Fiap, Sna casartigiani, Confcooperative lavoro e servizi, Legacoop produzione e servizi, Unatras, and Assotir.
(Unioneonline)