Minutes Meeting 24/10/07
The meeting of the wine intergroup took place in the presence of Mr Giuseppe Castiglione (EPP-ED, Italy), rapporteur on the reform of the CMO Wine, and of Mr Olivier Humbrecht, President of the "Syndicat International des Vignerons en Culture Biodynamique" (SIVCBD).
- Olivier Humbrecht, President of the "Syndicat International des Vignerons en Culture Biodynamique" (SIVCBD)
Olivier Humbrecht spoke on behalf of the SIVCBD, a small union of 45 members representing "biodynamic winegrowing". He is a wine producer in Alsace on a property of 40 hectares, and uses environmentally friendly production methods. 0% of his production is exported outside the EU.
Olivier Humbrecht is pessimistic about the future of traditional European winemaking. P.D.O wines are loosing their quality image in favour of a "brand" image closer to the Anglo-Saxon model. Local wines are the "shipwrecked in the ocean of wines of PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) and of PGI (Protected Geographical Indication)”. On the contrary, the quality of traditional wines and their ethical production methods have to be supported. The respect of the environment should be a priority.
The CMO wine reform has to pursue the following objectives: the protection of the European “terroirs”, the protection of quality wines and the promotion of wine consumption in the EU and on the world markets.
Olivier Humbrecht asks how far the CMO reform project as it stands can guarantee the preservation of the European wine sector.
- Astrid Lulling (EPP-ED, Luxembourg), President of the Wine Intergroup of the EP
Astrid Lulling underlines that the largest part of Mr Castiglione's amendments are uncontested. His report constitutes a good basis for negotiation. An agreement can be reached on numerous points.
She supports the views of Mr Castiglione on several points: the refusal to transfer funds from the 1st to the 2nd pillar; the promotion of European wines in the internal market and on world markets; the liberalisation of planting rights; the revision of the instruments for crisis management.
However, she does not agree with the rapporteur on sugar enrichment and on the distribution of funds within national envelopes.
According to Astrid Lulling, the problem is the Annex 5 as proposed by the Commission (oenological practices). On this point a common ground must be found between northern and southern member states. Mrs Lulling also objects to export certificates which would create an enormous amount of bureaucracy. She also regrets the lack of time given to the Parliament to reach an agreement.
- Giuseppe Castiglione (EPP-ED, Italy), Rapporteur in the Agriculture Committee of the EP on the Commission proposal for a reform of the CMO Wine regulation
According to Guiseppe Castiglione, the new reform of the CMO Wine is a good opportunity to learn more about the wine sector. 800 amendments were tabled on his draft report. Some of them concern minor points and many of them are redundant.
According to him, the CMO wine reform is a necessity in order to strengthen the competitiveness of the European wine sector on international markets. This reform has been discussed for a long period of time because of the specificities of the sector. Mr Castiglione welcomes the attention given to the Parliament by the Council.
There are numerous points of agreement on the reform:
- the refusal to transfer funds from the 1st to the 2nd pillar- the wine sector needs those resources
- the enlargement of eligible actions within national envelopes
- the reinforcement of the promotion of wines in the internal market and in third countries, the enlargement of promotional activities and the improvement of market research and knowledge
Giuseppe Castiglione is against the complete liberalisation of the sector that would put the European winegrowing heritage in jeopardy. He stresses the specificities of the sector.
One has to be reasonable and find a common ground on concrete ideas. Giuseppe Castiglione proposes the following distribution of figures for the national envelopes: 50% on historical criteria - 25% on production volumes - 25% on the basis of planting area. National envelopes have to be determined on the basis of several criteria instead of just the single historic one. The rapporteur wants a reform that suits both Northern and Southern Europe.
The rapporteur is against the proposition of the Commission to authorise for every wines the labelling of the type of vine and of the year of production. This would only increase confusion among consumers. Regarding geographical indications (PGI), the rapporteur proposes to strengthen the dispositions by aligning the CMO for wine to the Regulation 510/2006 according to which every step of the production process has to take place within a delimited geographical area.
- Anne Laperrouze (ALDE, France)
Anne Laperrouze asks how far the wine CMO reform will strenghten the position of European wines.
We have to find answers to the crisis of the European wine sector, a crisis with a structural and a conjectural side.
Anne Laperrouze wants to know from Mr Humbrecht what the difference is between organic winegrowing and reasonable winegrowing, and what the situation is of French local wines compared to that of wines of controlled origin.
- Christa Klass (EPP-ED, Germany)
Christa Klass welcomes the lively discussions with Guiseppe Castiglione. A compromise has to be found on the key issues of the reform, being: green harvesting, PGI, the use of grape must, the enrichment with sugar, distillation.
- Reply by Olivier Humbrecht, President of the "Syndicat International des Vignerons en Culture Biodynamique" (SIVCBD)
According to Olivier Humbrecht, complementary efforts have to be undertaken by producers in order to improve the quality of their products. The notion of "terroir" is fundamental. Reasonable agriculture is in his view a transition to organic agriculture but not everyone can adopt organic wine production methods.
- Olivier Humbrecht, President of the "Syndicat International des Vignerons en Culture Biodynamique" (SIVCBD)
Olivier Humbrecht spoke on behalf of the SIVCBD, a small union of 45 members representing "biodynamic winegrowing". He is a wine producer in Alsace on a property of 40 hectares, and uses environmentally friendly production methods. 0% of his production is exported outside the EU.
Olivier Humbrecht is pessimistic about the future of traditional European winemaking. P.D.O wines are loosing their quality image in favour of a "brand" image closer to the Anglo-Saxon model. Local wines are the "shipwrecked in the ocean of wines of PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) and of PGI (Protected Geographical Indication)”. On the contrary, the quality of traditional wines and their ethical production methods have to be supported. The respect of the environment should be a priority.
The CMO wine reform has to pursue the following objectives: the protection of the European “terroirs”, the protection of quality wines and the promotion of wine consumption in the EU and on the world markets.
Olivier Humbrecht asks how far the CMO reform project as it stands can guarantee the preservation of the European wine sector.
- Astrid Lulling (EPP-ED, Luxembourg), President of the Wine Intergroup of the EP
Astrid Lulling underlines that the largest part of Mr Castiglione's amendments are uncontested. His report constitutes a good basis for negotiation. An agreement can be reached on numerous points.
She supports the views of Mr Castiglione on several points: the refusal to transfer funds from the 1st to the 2nd pillar; the promotion of European wines in the internal market and on world markets; the liberalisation of planting rights; the revision of the instruments for crisis management.
However, she does not agree with the rapporteur on sugar enrichment and on the distribution of funds within national envelopes.
According to Astrid Lulling, the problem is the Annex 5 as proposed by the Commission (oenological practices). On this point a common ground must be found between northern and southern member states. Mrs Lulling also objects to export certificates which would create an enormous amount of bureaucracy. She also regrets the lack of time given to the Parliament to reach an agreement.
- Giuseppe Castiglione (EPP-ED, Italy), Rapporteur in the Agriculture Committee of the EP on the Commission proposal for a reform of the CMO Wine regulation
According to Guiseppe Castiglione, the new reform of the CMO Wine is a good opportunity to learn more about the wine sector. 800 amendments were tabled on his draft report. Some of them concern minor points and many of them are redundant.
According to him, the CMO wine reform is a necessity in order to strengthen the competitiveness of the European wine sector on international markets. This reform has been discussed for a long period of time because of the specificities of the sector. Mr Castiglione welcomes the attention given to the Parliament by the Council.
There are numerous points of agreement on the reform:
- the refusal to transfer funds from the 1st to the 2nd pillar- the wine sector needs those resources
- the enlargement of eligible actions within national envelopes
- the reinforcement of the promotion of wines in the internal market and in third countries, the enlargement of promotional activities and the improvement of market research and knowledge
Giuseppe Castiglione is against the complete liberalisation of the sector that would put the European winegrowing heritage in jeopardy. He stresses the specificities of the sector.
One has to be reasonable and find a common ground on concrete ideas. Giuseppe Castiglione proposes the following distribution of figures for the national envelopes: 50% on historical criteria - 25% on production volumes - 25% on the basis of planting area. National envelopes have to be determined on the basis of several criteria instead of just the single historic one. The rapporteur wants a reform that suits both Northern and Southern Europe.
The rapporteur is against the proposition of the Commission to authorise for every wines the labelling of the type of vine and of the year of production. This would only increase confusion among consumers. Regarding geographical indications (PGI), the rapporteur proposes to strengthen the dispositions by aligning the CMO for wine to the Regulation 510/2006 according to which every step of the production process has to take place within a delimited geographical area.
- Anne Laperrouze (ALDE, France)
Anne Laperrouze asks how far the wine CMO reform will strenghten the position of European wines.
We have to find answers to the crisis of the European wine sector, a crisis with a structural and a conjectural side.
Anne Laperrouze wants to know from Mr Humbrecht what the difference is between organic winegrowing and reasonable winegrowing, and what the situation is of French local wines compared to that of wines of controlled origin.
- Christa Klass (EPP-ED, Germany)
Christa Klass welcomes the lively discussions with Guiseppe Castiglione. A compromise has to be found on the key issues of the reform, being: green harvesting, PGI, the use of grape must, the enrichment with sugar, distillation.
- Reply by Olivier Humbrecht, President of the "Syndicat International des Vignerons en Culture Biodynamique" (SIVCBD)
According to Olivier Humbrecht, complementary efforts have to be undertaken by producers in order to improve the quality of their products. The notion of "terroir" is fundamental. Reasonable agriculture is in his view a transition to organic agriculture but not everyone can adopt organic wine production methods.
