On Monday 13 September, the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture asked the European Commission to agree to use the revision of the common market organisation (CMO) regulation to include measures to help the wine sector.
MEPs called on the Commission to implement without delay the recommendations of the High Level Group for the European wine sector (see EUROPE 13546/10). The topics addressed by this High Level Group are production potential, strengthening the sector’s resilience in the face of market developments and improving adaptation to market trends.
The Deputy Director-General of the Directorate-General for Agriculture (DG AGRI), Pierre Bascou, advocated for a “coordinated strategy” to avoid market imbalances and boost the sector’s competitiveness while preserving the countryside. He mentioned the idea of granting more flexibility to Member States when it comes to authorising vine planting, and simplification measures with regard to ‘green harvesting’ (a practice designed to reduce the quantity of grapes).
“We will very shortly be publishing a timetable for the possible implementation of the High Level Group’s various recommendations”, said Mr Bascou, after the MEPs had spoken. However, he felt that wine should not be included in the CMO negotiations, as the aim of this reform is to boost farmers’ incomes. In his view, these are two different processes.
“Wine is going through a serious crisis”, acknowledged Esther Herranz García (EPP, Spanish), who highlighted some of the recommended measures (strengthening producer organisations, flexibility on planting authorisations, more margins for grubbing up vines, etc.). Digital labelling (QR code leading to an electronic label) should be encouraged, in her view. Ms Herranz García said that, as part of the proposals on the common market organisation (CMO), she would be tabling amendments to include provisions for the wine sector (see EUROPE 13556/11).
Strategic sector. Dario Nardella (S&D, Italian) is waiting to see the Commission’s concrete proposals on the wine sector: a timetable of legislative proposals with short-, medium- and long-term measures. He also insisted on crisis management measures.
“There is an urgent need for action”, also insisted Éric Sargiacomo (S&D, French), who also wants to use the reform of the CMO to include measures to help wine. In his view, practices in distribution and trading need to be remedied. “The wine trade associations should be able to make recommendations on grape prices, must and bulk wine, to prevent bottles costing less than two euros appearing on shelves”, recommended Éric Sargiacomo.
Not criminalising wine consumption. Gilles Pennelle (PfE, French) believes that wine should not be criminalised (particularly through labelling) and that producers should be allowed to combat vine diseases (mildew).
Carlo Fidanza (ECR, Italian) is waiting for the Commission’s ‘roadmap’. He supported the ideas on flexibility in authorising vine planting, promotion and digital labelling.
Benoît Cassart(Renew Europe, Belgian) asked for a timetable for implementing the measures. He asked the Commission if it agreed to using the reform of the CMO as a means of resolving the urgent problems of the wine sector, rather than waiting for the reform of the CAP.
Céline Imart (EPP, French) felt that the grubbing up of vines should be financed by the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and by additional budgets. She also asked for: - an increase in the ceiling of 15% of national payments to finance crisis distillation measures; - active diplomacy in support of EU wine products (relations with the United States and China); - wine promotion; - avoidance of excessive health rhetoric about the effects of drinking a glass of wine.
Organic wines. Martin Häusling (Greens/EFA, German) believes that it is necessary to focus on regional promotion and quality rather than quantity. He asked for potassium phosphonate to be authorised for use in organic viticulture, in particular to combat mildew. Éric Sargiacomo, for his part, is opposed to this, preferring the use of ‘Bordeaux mixture’ (a fungicide treatment composed of copper sulphate and lime).
According to German producers, the authorisation of potassium phosphonate makes it possible to minimise the use of copper in organic viticulture as much as possible.
The Commission will shortly be requesting a re-evaluation of the use of potassium phosphonate in organic viticulture, concluded Mr Bascou. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)