On Monday 23 June in Luxembourg, the EU Agriculture Ministers welcomed the content of the EU Council’s mandate on measures to support the wine sector.
France and other countries (including Spain, Germany, Portugal, and Greece) supported the text negotiated by the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) (see EUROPE 13663/12).
The French Minister, Annie Genevard, welcomed the progress made in managing winegrowing potential, in particular the extension to eight years of the period of validity of replanting authorisations, as well as the specific provisions aimed at protecting areas with geographical indications. Thanks to the agreement, the crisis management toolbox will also be enriched, notably by the introduction of a permanent grubbing up measure.
As far as nutritional labelling is concerned, the exemption from obligations for exports to third countries “is a positive step forward”. However, France would like to retain the option of using pictograms in addition to the QR code.
Germany welcomed the rules on dealcoholisation of fortified wines.
For Italy, Francesco Lollobrigida welcomed the increase in the Community contribution to 80% for investments aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change. He welcomed the proposal to harmonise the rules on digital labelling, including the exemption from the obligation to indicate the nutritional declaration on the label for exports to third countries.
“We would, however, have liked to see greater flexibility in the management of promotional activities abroad, particularly when beneficiaries’ expenditure is not progressing as expected”, he concluded. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)