French, Spanish and Italian wine cooperatives wrote to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on Monday 5 July to ask her to help the wine sector, which has been badly affected by various events (Covid-19, Brexit, customs tariffs, etc.)
“In this very challenging context, we have proven our resilience and endurance, but we are reaching the point of no return. Without a strong plan for the re-launch of the wine sector, the risk for us not to make it is real”.
In their letter, the wine cooperatives from the three countries request: - to extend the crisis measures for the whole of 2021 and 2022; - a 3-year, multi-annual plan prioritising winegrowing “with additional economic resources” including: exceptional storage and distillation measures for at least 12 months, investments in innovation to ensure the digital and environmental transition, increasing the funds dedicated to the promotion of wine in the domestic and foreign markets, and investments to address the water access challenge.
In addition, MEP Irene Tolleret (Renew Europe, France) is preparing to send a letter on the grounds that Russia is “attacking European wine and spirits designations”.
Link to Ms Tolleret’s letter: https://bit.ly/36dTJt6
Letter from the three countries’ cooperatives: https://bit.ly/3yrDl4b (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)