The meeting was held in the presence of two representatives of the European Commission:
- Kieran Dooley, Deputy Chief Head of Unit at DG AGRI, in charge of the CMO wine reform.
- Maria Renstrom-Tornblom, National Expert detached to DG SANCO, in charge of the Strategy for reducing alcohol related harm.
1. The reform of the CMO for wine
Intervention by Kieran Dooley, Deputy Chief Head of Unit at DG AGRI -Unit C.3 in charge of wine, alcohol, tobacco, seeds and hops.
The European Commission adopted on the 4th of July 2007, a proposal for a new regulation of the CMO for wine. The aim of the reform is to strengthen the competitiveness of the European wine sector and to win back market share.
The European wine sector faces two major issues:
- Overproduction: the wine stocks are increasing due to a decrease of the consumption in Europe. The stocks will count 230 billion hectolitres in 2011 without a fundamental reform of the existing CMO.
- Unsteadiness between exportations and importations: the importations from the "New World" are increasing. The recent increase of European wine exportations to Russia is only a momentary phenomenon. The unsteadiness between exportations and importations has got a negative influence on the level of prices and benefits of the European producers.
The European Commission suggests a reform in two steps
- 1st step: grubbing-up scheme
Producers who encounter financial difficulties are given the opportunity to grub-up or to give up completely their production (subsidy for voluntary grubbing-up). The Commission plans to grub-up only 200 000 hectares instead of the 400 000 hectares, as it was originally proposed in the Communication of 2006. Kieran Dooley insists on the fact that the planed grubbing-up is a target and not an obligation. The grubbing-up scheme has to be realised with respect to economic, social and environmental needs.
- 2nd step: liberalisation of the planting rights
The Commission has decided to extend planting restrictions until 2013 and abolish them on the 1st January 2014 in order to allow the most competitive producers to increase their production.
The Commission suggests the eligibility of wines to the Single Farm Payment, in order to reform the Wine CMO along the lines of CAP reform. The introduction of national financial envelopes should allow Member States to develop the necessary strategies to enhance their market.
The Commission proposes to eliminate the financial support for the enrichment of wines by using musts and to prohibit entirely the use of sugar for enriching wine (chaptalisation). Aids for using musts are considered to be too high (140 million euros each year).
Intervention by Thomas Wise (EPP-ED, United Kingdom)
Thomas Wise sets against new regulations for the wine sector, which would damage the market. Bureaucratization has to be avoided
Intervention by Christa Klass (EPP-ED, Germany)
Christa Klass expresses her disagreement with the grubbing-up scheme, which is, according to her, contradictory to the liberalisation of the planting rights after the year 2013. She refuses the ban on sugar for enrichment which is a traditional production method.
Intervention by Astrid Lulling, President of Wine Intergroup (EPP-ED, Luxembourg)
The proposal of the Commission is based on a too much pessimistic scenario. The overproduction is not the main problem. We have to reinforce our production capacities to win back market share. Astrid Lulling insists on the maintaining of the production methods by using chaptalisation which is a traditional method in some European regions such as the Champagne and it is not used to increase the volume of production.
Intervention by Jean-Marie Beaupuy (ALDE, France)
Jean-Marie Beaupuy is convinced that the most important thing to do is to respond to the consumers demand. We shall not go against the markets.
Intervention by Anne Laperrouze (ALDE, France)
How does the Commission explain the reduction of the area to grub-up from 400 000 hectares to 200 000 hectares?
Reply by Kieran Dooley, European Commission, DG AGRI
Due to the new promoting programs suggested by the European Commission, the overproduction should be reduced and therefore, there is no need to grub-up 400 000 hectares. 200 000 hectares should be enough to put an end to overproduction. The aim of the Commission is to support quality wines. The actual use of sugar does not correspond to the definition of wine. The prohibition of replanting the grubbed-up surfaces after 2013 would encounter numerous problems to consider (important decrease of the ground prices). To reply to Thomas Wise, Kieran Dooley says that there won’t be more regulations. The reform of the CMO for wine is based on the principle of "Better regulation".
The exchange of views on the reform of the CMO for wine will continue between the Commission, the EP and professionals during the next meetings of the Wine Intergroup as well as during the next meetings of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development of the EP.
2. The Strategy for reducing alcohol related harm
Intervention by Maria Renstrom-Tornblom, National Expert detached to DG SANCO, in charge of the Strategy for reducing alcohol related harm.
In 2006, the Commission adopted a strategy against alcohol related harm. The priorities, such as defined by the Commission, are supported by all stockholders. The aim of the strategy is to support the activities of Member States against alcohol related harm. It does not target the consumption of alcohol in itself but the excessive consumption. The Commission doesn’t plan to propose new regulations.
The Alcohol and Health Forum has been created on the 7th of June 2007. The Forum brings together 50 members concerned by alcohol consumption: producers, NGOs, doctors, industrials, public health services... The Forum is a place to exchange good practices between participants. These members have decided, in a common agreement, to undertake concrete actions against alcohol related harm. MEPs can participate as observers.
Intervention by Renate Sommer (EPP-ED, Germany) Shadow reporter of the ENVI Committee of the European Parliament
Renate Sommer intervenes in the perspective of the vote in ENVI Committee on the Strategy for reducing alcohol related harm which is planned on the 17th of July 2007. The EPP-ED agrees with most of the propositions made by the Commission as well as with Mr Foglietta’s report. The text respects the powers of the Member States concerning public health. Renate Sommer insists on the importance of the exchange of good practices. The EPP-ED group does not support “health warning labelling” and the prohibition of advertisement for alcoholic products. Nevertheless the sale of "alcopops" has to be limited. The EPP-ED group supports the education of young people to protect them against the misuse of alcohol and asks for a better training of doctors on alcohology.
Intervention by Christa Klass (EPP-ED, Germany)
Christa Klass is glad to see that the stands of the involved communities have moved closer together. A consensus seems to be possible on this topic. The vote will take place in ENVI Committee on the 17th of July 2007. Some 270 amendments have been tabled and less than 20 compromise amendments have been proposed by the rapporteur.
- Kieran Dooley, Deputy Chief Head of Unit at DG AGRI, in charge of the CMO wine reform.
- Maria Renstrom-Tornblom, National Expert detached to DG SANCO, in charge of the Strategy for reducing alcohol related harm.
1. The reform of the CMO for wine
Intervention by Kieran Dooley, Deputy Chief Head of Unit at DG AGRI -Unit C.3 in charge of wine, alcohol, tobacco, seeds and hops.
The European Commission adopted on the 4th of July 2007, a proposal for a new regulation of the CMO for wine. The aim of the reform is to strengthen the competitiveness of the European wine sector and to win back market share.
The European wine sector faces two major issues:
- Overproduction: the wine stocks are increasing due to a decrease of the consumption in Europe. The stocks will count 230 billion hectolitres in 2011 without a fundamental reform of the existing CMO.
- Unsteadiness between exportations and importations: the importations from the "New World" are increasing. The recent increase of European wine exportations to Russia is only a momentary phenomenon. The unsteadiness between exportations and importations has got a negative influence on the level of prices and benefits of the European producers.
The European Commission suggests a reform in two steps
- 1st step: grubbing-up scheme
Producers who encounter financial difficulties are given the opportunity to grub-up or to give up completely their production (subsidy for voluntary grubbing-up). The Commission plans to grub-up only 200 000 hectares instead of the 400 000 hectares, as it was originally proposed in the Communication of 2006. Kieran Dooley insists on the fact that the planed grubbing-up is a target and not an obligation. The grubbing-up scheme has to be realised with respect to economic, social and environmental needs.
- 2nd step: liberalisation of the planting rights
The Commission has decided to extend planting restrictions until 2013 and abolish them on the 1st January 2014 in order to allow the most competitive producers to increase their production.
The Commission suggests the eligibility of wines to the Single Farm Payment, in order to reform the Wine CMO along the lines of CAP reform. The introduction of national financial envelopes should allow Member States to develop the necessary strategies to enhance their market.
The Commission proposes to eliminate the financial support for the enrichment of wines by using musts and to prohibit entirely the use of sugar for enriching wine (chaptalisation). Aids for using musts are considered to be too high (140 million euros each year).
Intervention by Thomas Wise (EPP-ED, United Kingdom)
Thomas Wise sets against new regulations for the wine sector, which would damage the market. Bureaucratization has to be avoided
Intervention by Christa Klass (EPP-ED, Germany)
Christa Klass expresses her disagreement with the grubbing-up scheme, which is, according to her, contradictory to the liberalisation of the planting rights after the year 2013. She refuses the ban on sugar for enrichment which is a traditional production method.
Intervention by Astrid Lulling, President of Wine Intergroup (EPP-ED, Luxembourg)
The proposal of the Commission is based on a too much pessimistic scenario. The overproduction is not the main problem. We have to reinforce our production capacities to win back market share. Astrid Lulling insists on the maintaining of the production methods by using chaptalisation which is a traditional method in some European regions such as the Champagne and it is not used to increase the volume of production.
Intervention by Jean-Marie Beaupuy (ALDE, France)
Jean-Marie Beaupuy is convinced that the most important thing to do is to respond to the consumers demand. We shall not go against the markets.
Intervention by Anne Laperrouze (ALDE, France)
How does the Commission explain the reduction of the area to grub-up from 400 000 hectares to 200 000 hectares?
Reply by Kieran Dooley, European Commission, DG AGRI
Due to the new promoting programs suggested by the European Commission, the overproduction should be reduced and therefore, there is no need to grub-up 400 000 hectares. 200 000 hectares should be enough to put an end to overproduction. The aim of the Commission is to support quality wines. The actual use of sugar does not correspond to the definition of wine. The prohibition of replanting the grubbed-up surfaces after 2013 would encounter numerous problems to consider (important decrease of the ground prices). To reply to Thomas Wise, Kieran Dooley says that there won’t be more regulations. The reform of the CMO for wine is based on the principle of "Better regulation".
The exchange of views on the reform of the CMO for wine will continue between the Commission, the EP and professionals during the next meetings of the Wine Intergroup as well as during the next meetings of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development of the EP.
2. The Strategy for reducing alcohol related harm
Intervention by Maria Renstrom-Tornblom, National Expert detached to DG SANCO, in charge of the Strategy for reducing alcohol related harm.
In 2006, the Commission adopted a strategy against alcohol related harm. The priorities, such as defined by the Commission, are supported by all stockholders. The aim of the strategy is to support the activities of Member States against alcohol related harm. It does not target the consumption of alcohol in itself but the excessive consumption. The Commission doesn’t plan to propose new regulations.
The Alcohol and Health Forum has been created on the 7th of June 2007. The Forum brings together 50 members concerned by alcohol consumption: producers, NGOs, doctors, industrials, public health services... The Forum is a place to exchange good practices between participants. These members have decided, in a common agreement, to undertake concrete actions against alcohol related harm. MEPs can participate as observers.
Intervention by Renate Sommer (EPP-ED, Germany) Shadow reporter of the ENVI Committee of the European Parliament
Renate Sommer intervenes in the perspective of the vote in ENVI Committee on the Strategy for reducing alcohol related harm which is planned on the 17th of July 2007. The EPP-ED agrees with most of the propositions made by the Commission as well as with Mr Foglietta’s report. The text respects the powers of the Member States concerning public health. Renate Sommer insists on the importance of the exchange of good practices. The EPP-ED group does not support “health warning labelling” and the prohibition of advertisement for alcoholic products. Nevertheless the sale of "alcopops" has to be limited. The EPP-ED group supports the education of young people to protect them against the misuse of alcohol and asks for a better training of doctors on alcohology.
Intervention by Christa Klass (EPP-ED, Germany)
Christa Klass is glad to see that the stands of the involved communities have moved closer together. A consensus seems to be possible on this topic. The vote will take place in ENVI Committee on the 17th of July 2007. Some 270 amendments have been tabled and less than 20 compromise amendments have been proposed by the rapporteur.
