The Governor of Italy’s Macerata Province, Giulio Silenzi, visited Brussels to present the European Commission with a document urging for quality safeguards and transparency measures to be introduced that would allow footwear to be tracked as it is imported in to Europe.

The document, which represents 37,000 employees and over 4,000 businesses in the shoe manufacturing industry and was signed by 24 mayors and the two governors of Macerata and Ascoli Piceno provinces, was delivered to trade commissioner Pier Haugad. The delegation then met with industry regional councillor Gianni Giaccaglia to discuss its significance.

Mr Silenzi said: "This occasion is an example of how it is useful to 'play as a team' in order to urge the Italian government and the European Union to take action to support a traditional high quality industry sector that has a great economic influence on the territory."