Brussels, 06/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - In the special committee on agriculture (SCA) on Monday 5 November, the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the EU noted encouraging progress on the grubbing up chapter of the reform of the wine sector. The objective of a Council political agreement on this reform in December remains, even though much still has to be done, in very little time, on the most hotly contested areas (the addition of sugar to wine, national envelopes, distillation measures).
The Portuguese presidency, in agreement with the European Commission, made suggestions on the programme for grubbing up vines. The following ideas received a generally positive welcome from member states: - reducing the length of the grubbing up programme (three years instead of the originally proposed five); - the figure of 200,000 hectares to be grubbed up being seen not as a target to be reached, but as a projection related to a spending ceiling; - extending the possibilities open to member states for not including part of the wine growing area in the grubbing up: under the initial proposal, countries could exclude up to 2% of the area planted with vines from grubbing up, for environmental reasons (the presidency is proposing, for example, to increase this are to 3%; in addition, the Commission is proposing that a member state can cease grubbing up when 10% of the total wine-growing area has been grubbed up, and the presidency would like to see this reduced to 8%); - the presidency suggestion that those countries which wish should be able to grant grubbing up premiums when the area concerned is not less than 0.3 hectares (in the initial proposal, the area required was 0.1ha); - a ceiling per member state (of, for example, 15% of the country's wine-growing area) could be agreed, to ensure fair allocation of Community funding for grubbing up.
With regard, in particular, to premiums paid to growers for grubbing up vines, the presidency's preference would be for a graduated and attractive system: 20% higher than currently being offered in the first year (2008-2009), 10% higher for the following year (2009-2010) and the premium currently proposed for 2010-2011. Spain and Greece would like to have the same level of grubbing up premium over the three years of the programme.
On labelling of products, a large number of countries (such as Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom, Poland and the Baltic states) advocate the use of the term wines of various fruits (apple, gooseberry, etc.).
The Commission is proposing to allow the grape variety and the year of vintage to be shown on wines with no geographical indication, to compete with the New World (South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Chile) “variety wines”. The debate within the SCA shows that the status quo called for by several countries cannot be sustained. Under consideration is the option of a limited list of grape varieties which could be used on labels. Some member states want to have traceability and organoleptic analyses, even specifications, others do not. Some delegations are fearful of causing confusion among consumers and a blurring of the notion of quality wines with labelling. (L.C.)