Brussels, 30/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - The Council of Agriculture Ministers noted, on Monday evening, the absences of a qualified majority over the draft Directive aiming to facilitate the free movement of material for the propagation of the vine. It decided to return the dossier to the Coreper following a debate during which Germany, Portugal, France, Austria and Denmark brought their support to Italy.
The Italian Green Minister Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio also won a new battle on the crusade he launched against "mad wine". Last December, he had already gained a first adjournment of the examination of this proposal, which notably covers the authorisation of the free movement of vine plants having been the object of genetic manipulations. Before the Council meeting, he announced that he was determined to gain a seven year moratorium on the use of this kind of material for vegetative propagation.