07/07/2025 (Agence Europe) – The €15 million granted by the EU to South African vineyards is “neither an annual cheque nor a recent decision”, explained the Assembly of European Wine Regions (AREV) on Monday 7 July. The organisation points out that this aid is part of a historic trade agreement concluded between 1998 and 2002 between the European Union and South Africa, following lengthy negotiations (see EUROPE 13672/11). According to AREV, this agreement has led to “real benefits for European producers”: recognising and protecting geographical indications (Champagne, Port, Cognac, etc.), and opening up the South African market to European wines and spirits. The results are visible: in 2024, South Africa became one of the leading importers of Cognac (3.1 million bottles), after the United States and China, and is the leading African market for Champagne. (LC)