Brussels, 06/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 6 October, the European Commission agreed to an indicative budget of €510 million for the restructuring and conversion of 62,816 hectares of vineyards in the EU in marketing year 2007-2008. The countries most affected are Spain (€162.1 million for reconverting 20,233 ha), France (€110.6 million for 14,384 ha), Italy (€101.1 million for 12,279 ha), Portugal (€34.7 million for 4,004 ha) and Romania (€25 million for 3,008 ha). The aim of the aid is to bring production into line with market demand.
Aid for restructuring and conversion of vineyards can be used for one or more of the following actions: varietal conversion, relocation of vineyards and improvements to vineyard management techniques. The scheme does not cover the normal renewal of vineyards which have come to the end of their natural life. “Improving the quality of the wine we produce is a top priority if we are to fend off the challenge posed by New World wine producers,” commented European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Mariann Fischer Boel. She said the restructuring programme had “played a useful role since 1999”, although new reform measures were required. Since financial support for restructuring and conversion was introduced, €3 billion have been allocated to the wine producing member states. (L.C.)