22/09/2025 (Agence Europe) – Faced with the persistent crisis in the European wine market, Germany asked the European Commission at the Agriculture Council on Monday 22 September to go beyond the current wine package by proposing ambitious structural measures, in particular a (voluntary) European scheme for grubbing up vines, inspired by the programme carried out between 2009 and 2011. This programme would combine financial aid for winegrowers who agree to reduce their acreage with ecological measures on the grubbed-up plots. France said it shared the diagnosis of the situation and called for the ‘wine package’ to be finalised. In its view, supporting the grubbing-up of vines was an important and feasible tool. Christophe Hansen, the European Commissioner for Agriculture, agreed with Portugal that we should concentrate on promoting European wine in third countries, rather than spending money on a programme to grub up vines. See the German information note: https://aeur.eu/f/ik9 (LC)