Vittorio Tabacchi elected President of Eurom I

The European Federation of Precision Mechanical and Optical Industries – met in Strasburg to discuss certain fundamental subjects linked to the eyewear sector. Founded in Brussels in 1958, the Federation represents the interests of precision mechanical and optical industries at the European Commission and other European, national and international institutions. Subjects that are important to this segment were discussed during two days of concentrated work: from market trends to possible communication campaigns, from regulations for protecting markets to the bane of counterfeiting, from the problem of selling eyewear on the Internet to the question of “Made in”, from important issues like safe driving to the examination of the sector’s regulatory and technical aspects.
During the annual meeting, the presidents of the various EUROM 1 member associations elected a new president: Vittorio Tabacchi, the president of Anfao and Mido and honorary president of Safilo, will take over from Antoni Olivella (who remains as vice president) at the end of his mandate.
The members of EUROM I were the main players at a session of the European Parliament in Strasburg, where they were able to explain the shared problems, greater details of which will be given later.
“I am honored to accept this prestigious office», the newly-elected president declared. «I would like to thank President Olivella and Director-General De Limé for their work over the past 3 years. I am aware that it is an important office, especially in these difficult times when EUROM I is coping with many fundamental challenges”.
The Federation’s main objectives include the search for increasing representation in European institutions through collaboration with reference persons in the European Commission and Parliament. For many years, EUROM I has had a profitable collaboration also with the Vision Council of America and the European Council of Optometry and Optics, which invited EUROM I to take part in their next conference, as well as with the European Sunglass Association (ESA) and Eurom Contact.
“I believe that it is important to join forces at European and national level in order to be more efficient», Tabacchi commented. The subjects in which the new president is most keenly interested include the relationship between sight and driving. «We are working toward the introduction of a more efficient and avant-garde compulsory sight test for obtaining, or renewing, a driving license. It should be introduced in Europe by January 1, 2013”.
It is a battle that the new president of EUROM I has been carrying forward also in Italy as president of the Commissione Difesa Vista. “In Italy, for example, we have been able to present an amendment that was discussed in the Chamber of Deputies», he explained. «And now we are working with the Ministry for Health and the Ministry for Transport to ensure that the new Italian Highway Code includes more updated tests”.
Another priority issue for the new president is the battle against counterfeiting. “It is a worrying subject both nationally and internationally”, Tabacchi explained. “We are evaluating several interventions. The first one is already scheduled for tomorrow in Venice and it is organized by ANFAO, the Italian Association of Optical Goods Manufacturers, which I represent. In fact, following our proposal, Confindustria, the Confederation of Italian Industry, made July 7 the first National Anti-Counterfeiting Day. There will be events in Rome, Milan, Turin, Florence, Arezzo and Venice. Also taking place in Venice is the public destruction of counterfeit eyeglasses, followed by a press conference at which representatives of national and local government bodies will speak”.
The problem of counterfeiting is linked to the issue of sales on the Internet and “we will continue to monitor the situation to safeguard our industry from any unsafe practices and, above all, to protect consumer health from the hazards of counterfeit and poor quality products!, Tabacchi underscored.
“We have set ourselves numerous objectives”, the president concluded. “For my part, it is a commitment and an honor to try to reach the highest number possible so that EUROM I will be an increasingly efficient tool in support of the industry at European level”.