The Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins (CEEV) has published a ‘Manifesto on the Future of the EU Wine Sector.’ Based on the challenges and needs of the EU wine sector, the CEEV outlines two main demands for the EU's political institutions: an "agricultural and wine in all policies approach" and an "enhanced 360° assessment of legislative proposals and a stronger legislative coherence."
Direct industry influence on politics demanded
In plain terms, this means making the voice of the agricultural and wine industries more prominent in political debates. This entails greater influence for the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) and the European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (COMAGRI) in decisions that affect agriculture. Additionally, an intergroup working group on wine should be established as a "privileged interlocutor with the EU Commission and the European Council." In short, the agricultural and wine sectors should have more direct contact with the EU decision-making bodies.
The second demand essentially pertains to the European Commission, which is envisioned as a kind of bulwark against the European Parliament and the European Council, particularly if they demand ‘profound changes’ in legislative proposals. To achieve this, the European Commission should increase its information exchange with the agricultural and wine sectors to better understand their specific characteristics.
Challenges and needs
The challenges faced by the industry are clear: declining wine consumption in the EU, an uncertain global market, changing consumption habits leading to an oversupply, health policy threats (‘demonisation of wine’), an increase in extreme weather events, rising production and distribution costs, and a complex bureaucratic regulatory framework.
In terms of goals and needs, the CEEV wants a market-oriented agricultural policy to support the competitiveness of wine businesses. Additionally, there is a need to balance "protection of a traditional product and innovation to meet consumers’ expectations."
Adapting to climate change while also mitigating its effects is necessary. Additionally, the EU's health policy must be "coordinated, pragmatic, and science-based." In its manifesto, the CEEV emphasizes the significance of the wine industry for the EU, referencing data from its March 2024 report.
