Mayor Palmiro Ucchielli warns exclusion of hill municipalities threatens schools, farms and doctors

Mayor Palmiro Ucchielli of Vallefoglia has reiterated concerns that the current criteria excluding hill and mountain municipalities from certain funding and support schemes could have severe repercussions for essential public services. After meeting with other Italian mayors in Rome and participating in a delegation at Palazzo Chigi, he joined a video conference organized by the mayor of Urbino to highlight the issue.

Ucchielli warned that the exclusions could lead to the closure of small schools in historic villages such as Sant’Angelo in Lizzola and Montefabbri, undermine agricultural activity that depends on EU Common Agricultural Policy subsidies, and reduce incentives for general practitioners, jeopardising health care access in these areas. He appealed to Minister Roberto Calderoli and the relevant ministries to revise the inclusion criteria for internal areas, emphasizing the need to protect local communities, schools, agriculture and health services.