Brussels, 20/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - COPA-COGECA has welcomed the initiative taken by nine member states calling for planting rights for all kinds of wine in the European wine sector to be maintained (EUROPE 10362). EU agricultural organisations are warning that if this does not happen “there will be a serious exodus from the EU rural areas”.
Thierry Coste, president of the COPA-COGECA wine working group, explained that liberalisation of planting rights could have considerable ramifications in the changes it could bring to Europe's winegrowing areas because “it would imply moving from a system where the producer or their cooperative makes the wine to a more intensive industrialised model. It would also result in serious market imbalance, thus creating production surpluses. The system of planting rights helps to stabilise the EU wine market and wine production as well as guarantee the quality of wine produced in the EU.” COPA-COGECA is therefore urging the Commission to take into account these factors in the development of its report on the winegrowing sector before the end of 2012. The agricultural organisations are also calling on MEPs during their vote in May on the report on the future of the CAP (common agricultural policy) to guarantee that plantation rights are maintained after 2015.
In a press release, Riccardo Ricci Curbastro, president of the EFOW (European Federation of Origin Wines) warmly welcomed the news and stated: “We welcome this common position expressed by nine EU member states. This stance is very important since not only did the ministers express support for the prolongation of planting rights beyond the 2015 deadline on the whole of the Union's territory but furthermore they are asked to maintain the system for all categories of wines”.
EFOW explains that the common position of the nine countries is important but not sufficient because, “we are still far from having a qualified majority in the Council. Nevertheless, these nine member states dispose now of a blocking minority vote in case they are not given satisfaction when viticulture issues will be discussed”. (L.C./transl.fl)