The European Parliament’s rapporteur on the common market organisation, Éric Andrieu (S&D, France), said, on Thursday 4 March, that progress had been made in the negotiations between EU institutions on the common market organisation (CMO) which is part of the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP).
At a meeting of the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture, Mr Andrieu gave an update on the talks after the trilogue of 3 March on the CMO.
Regarding wine, “it seems that we have made progress” on authorisations to plant vines (extension until 2045), the ‘de-alcoholisation’ of wine, prohibited grape varieties (acceptance of the Parliament’s position) and labelling (see EUROPE 12653/5). The technical elements must be found in order to reach a decision by the co-legislators, the MEP stressed.
On the ‘professional organisations’ negotiating block, there are “misunderstandings” with the Council of the EU on the regulation of products with protected designation of origin (PDO) and protected geographical indication (PGI), according to Mr Andrieu. The European Parliament proposes to extend, to all sectors, the regulation that exists for wine, cheese and ham. The Commission would agree that the Council of the EU would remain on hold on the subject, but “it seems that things are looking pretty good”, the rapporteur said.
Regarding the ‘crisis management’ block, he regretted that the Council of the EU had rejected “19 points deemed unacceptable” in the European Parliament's position, without first debating them in trilogue.
The European Parliament is being called upon to provide arguments on these points.
Finally, Mr. Andrieu was cautious about holding this ‘super-trilogue’ at the end of March on the CAP reform, a plan instigated by the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU (see EUROPE 12669/1). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)