Truckers suspend protest in Calabria, fruit and veg start returning to shelves

(ANSA) - ROME, 22 OTT - Fresh fruit and vegetables started to reappear in market and supermarkets in Calabria on Thursday after truckers in the southern regional suspended strikes and protests against soaring fuel prices that had led to empty shelves and stalls. The suspension of the protests, which had included road blocks, made it possible to resume food deliveries and, although they were still sporadic, normality was gradually returning. Tanker trucks have also started refuelling gas stations throughout the region, many of which had run out of petrol and diesel. Calabria hads been the hotbed of the trucker protests, which industrial associations in the neighbouring regions of Campania and Puglia said were putting many of their member companies were on the brink of collapse. Italian air-traffic-management agency ENAV said Wednesday that Crotone and Reggio Calabria airports have run out of jet fuel due to the supply stoppages. On Wednesday 11 associations of trucking companies issued a joint statement calling on Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi to intervene to remove the roadblocks. The Sicilian Hauliers' Committee (CTS) had already was called off the suspension of its activities on Tuesday after Transport Minister Matteo Salvini met road haulage associations in Milan and the government announced 480 million euros in aid was on the way for lorry drivers. With the situation getting critical, Premier Giorgia Meloni's government took a hard line on Wednesday, when the interior ministry said 1,339 individuals have been identified and 71 reported to authorities over the road blockades. Meloni's cabinet is set to meet on Thursday to approve a decree with urgent provisions and support measures for the road haulage, agriculture, and fishing sectors. (ANSA).
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