GUE/NGL MEPs expressed their opposition to Milan's international expo, due to open tomorrow 1 May, during a European Parliament plenary debate this morning.

Dutch GUE/NGL MEP Anja Hazekamp commented: “The expo in Milan talks about feeding the planet, which has led to a lot of hope, but it's really big companies like McDonald's and Coca-Cola that take over these events. These companies are trying to keep their place on the market rather than worry about people around the world.”

She continued: “What we are seeing now is an intensification of food production with more agricultural products than necessary. The earth has sufficient resources for everyone's needs, yet one billion people suffer from hunger every day.”

For the future Ms Hazekamp recommended “a transitional period with a move towards local sustainable production and away from animal-based production to plant- and vegetable-based production and to get rid of subsidies.”

Italian MEP Curzio Maltese expressed his opposition to Expo 2015 saying that “people organising big expos do so to promote international corruption and to build links with big multinational companies.  These multinationals consider food only as a commodity and profit, and not as a basic need which is linked to the survival of many people on the planet who are deprived of everything.”

The MEP considers it preposterous that the report presented to the European Parliament on Expo 2015 describes it as an “example of transparency.” He said:  “It is, rather, a testimony to the growing corruption that plagues Italy, which is hostage to the interests of organised crime.”

 

GUE/NGL Press Contact:

Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20

European United Left / Nordic Green Left

European Parliamentary Group

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