On Thursday 28 January, the European Commission decided to extend the exceptional support measures for the wine sector for one year due to the consequences of the Covid-19 crisis and the difficulties related to the commercial dispute between Boeing and Airbus (see EUROPE 12637/12).
The EU is contesting the 25% increase in American tariffs on non-sparkling wines and grape-based spirits (cognac, brandy).
Delegated acts put forward by the European Commission make aid available to wine producers until 15 October 2021 and retroactively from 16 October 2020.
“US tariffs on EU wine have also contributed to the difficulties faced by the market, limiting exports to the USA”, the Commission said in a statement.
Adopted in 2020, these measures aim to maximise the use of the budget available under the national support programmes for the wine sector.
Several regulations temporarily allow, among others, wine distillation in case of crisis, aid for wine storage, increased EU support for measures in the wine support programmes (EU contribution up to 70%, compared to 50% under normal circumstances) and increased flexibility in the implementation of some of the measures (such as ‘green harvesting’).
“Despite these exceptional measures, the market has not regained its balance. To provide further relief to the wine sector, it is therefore necessary to prolong several of these measures for the duration of the 2021 financial year”, the delegated act specifies (https://bit.ly/3t5ruao ). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)