First of all I want to thanks, also for my CNCU's colleagues, Tuscany Region for this important meeting on a complex topic and for which, as we know,  is very hard to find a good solution.

Above all, I want to say a big thank you to Mrs Kuneva, for the kindness and the attention for all us.

 

Our today discussion in Prato, a symbol of the globalized world of textil, focus a topic that we feel close to us as consumers.

 

I also must say that many consciousness consumers are baffled by the constant changes on labelling norms.

 

This is the consequence of several changes, that not always goes well together transparency and clear information.

 

As European consumers, we used the expression “made in” …France, Italy, United Kingdom, or for extraeuropean goods China, Usa, Thailand. It was simple, but often misleading.

 

Certainly it isn’t an exhaustive information even if in the past has been a little warranty on our purchase.

 

In this way, we knew that the American cotton was the best, or that the Italian or the French design was trendy. At the same time, we could perceive the benefit of a Chinese or Thailand goods.

 

For us, that represent consumers, those labels was significant, but not enough.

 

In fact we don’t think that the main goods value, required to obtain the sign “made in”, can be sufficient to identify a complex production process. Think about a dress, for example. You could have cotton, weaving and dyeing made in Asia, cut and packaging perhaps made in Africa, and European design. The main goods value is design, but Europe didn’t even see it.  Then, also to guarantee the survival of European industry, we have to find alternative criteria to underline the “made in” value.

 

Otherwise, we are greatly misleading.

 

And than.

There is also a than to face up. A generic ”made in Europe” cannot take the place of the single value of a “made in” France or Italy, but not only, in the clothing or footwear field.

 

All we know that the value of goods that keep those criteria I refer before, is recognised all over the world.

 

A Japanese or American consumer want to be guaranteed and informed properly, and they want to know if that goods are made in Italy with Italian design and supplies. If there is a real “made in Italy”, they are also ready to pay more. It’s not for the brand, but above all for quality and hand-made skills.

 

We have to protect also those consumers, as we have to defend our culture and our peculiar style.

 

Globalization is an important value, a way that unlikely could be turn down in the opposite direction.

It’s the way of spread and development, also for the underveloped country.

 

But in this globalization process, it is necessary to plan and fix rules more and more strict and shared, to set competent court, to defend different culture and style of life, and we have to do more and more to defend environment both in productive and discharge stage.

 

In this new modern process, we want to see a Europe that have credit more than have today.

 

To be protagonist and weigh on comparison with great Asian and American powers, in the WTO, in periodic meeting to settle trade by new treaty, Europe needs European citizens agreement. It must feel the pulse, or better, its people’s breath on neck.

 

We feel, day by day, supine witness to a Europe that don’t find the strength to be a union of different peoples, that contribute to built the modern world, but that don’t know how to build a great European country.

 

We want it. And I’m sure that my Spanish, French, Bulgarian, German, Czech and Latvian friends want the same. Perhaps it could be the same willing of our Turkish friends if we allow them to join us. People want Europe, and want to be listen not only every five years, for election, but every day, through the associations that work for people and through people.

 

A periodic consultation on more hot argument, but also the consumers’ meeting , broken off from three years, are deep lack, not allowed for a modern Europe.

 

Associations that work in different countries deserve help and more strength to get trough people and to become a great and irreplaceable resource to weave a web of approvals and support the attending of European people for the building of a European Country.