Europarliament gives green light to 'wine package' anti-crisis measures
Simplification in the use of promotion funds, flexibility for new plants, but also for explanting them
Final approval by the European Parliament of the "wine package", i.e. the portfolio of measures put in place by Brussels in favour of the wine sector to tackle the difficult phase of the sector squeezed between US tariffs and a declining consumption trend that is penalising red wine production areas in particular.
Of particular interest to the business world are the simplifications and flexibilities introduced in the use of EU funds allocated to the sector under the Common Market Organisation (CMO) for wine. These include the extended duration for wine promotion programmes on foreign markets and also the greater flexibility provided for authorisations for new plantings.
There is also significant news on standards and definitions in order to clarify the contours of the sector of NoLo wines, i.e. alcohol-free or low-alcohol, a market segment that is growing strongly, particularly on foreign markets.
Less appreciated, at least on the Italian side, are the measures that allow the possibility of financing interventions such as the 'scrapping' of vineyards with EU funds. For example, a grubbing-up campaign was launched in France in recent months. Similarly, and therefore at the discretion of the member states, the measure of crisis distillation may also be activated to reduce wine surpluses and support prices.
Favourable opinions were expressed by the production world. Coldiretti is satisfied with the measures that 'will ensure greater transparency for citizens-consumers and simplification for companies in support of a fundamental sector of Made in Italy'.
