On 18 December the European Parliament approved the two questions presented by the Hon. Muscardini, together with colleagues Susta and Rinaldi, reopening the issue of “Made in” after the European Commission tried to shelve once and for all the dossier on labels of origin for non-EU products.

After the voting, «Small but significant steps ahead are being made» – said European MP Muscardini, who is vice-president of the Commission for international trade. Now we must wait for January when there will be an additional request aimed at coming to an understanding with those countries which are against the proposal. «This approval – commented Michele Tronconi, president of Sistema Moda Italia – shows that the European MP’s are much more pragmatic in defense of European citizens’ rights, both as consumers and producers, compared to the Commission and the Council.

Only through such pragmatism can one hope to give transparency to the market and aid to European manufacture. Employment also depends on this. Those representing the European nations should remind all EU members that, as United States President Obama is staking on bringing manufacture back to America, perhaps certain North Europeans with their ideas of great free trade should at least have second thoughts about transparency. From the political point of view, the bell also tolls for the Italian Government: don’t let us be stepped on as if we are ashamed of Made in Italy!».