Italy asked to collect 1.4 bn unpaid milk quota fines

(ANSA) - Brussels, July 10 - The European Commission on Thursday ordered Italy to collect 1.395 billion euros of unpaid fines from farmers for violating milk quotas between 1995 and 2009.
    The move comes after Brussels launched the first stage of infringement proceedings against Rome in relation to the violation in June 2013.
    Out of "a total of 2.265 billion euros of fines accumulated by Italian producers between 1995 and 2009, 1.396 billion euros have still not been collected," wrote the Commission in a reasoned opinion sent to Italy on Thursday. "This demonstrates that the Italian authorities have not taken, or have not enacted, sufficient measures to ensure payment of the sums owed," the Commission said.