The EU Commission promises to establish an expert group tasked with developing measures to support European wine producers. This follows discussions between the Commission and EU agricultural ministers during the meeting of the Council for Agriculture and Fisheries on Monday, May 27th.
The Commission had previously confirmed that "particularly the market situation in the wine sector is tense due to increased costs, changing consumer behavior, and the recent cold spells during the flowering period of the vines," said the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture BMEL. The German Minister for Food and Agriculture Cem Özdemir had advocated for countermeasures and relief for wine producers, prompting the Commission to commit to promptly establishing an expert group. However, there is currently no indication of this on the EU Commission's website.
"To rebalance the market, an EU-wide vineyard removal program coupled with a halt in new plantings can be beneficial – that's what I advocated for in Brussels. The Commission's decision to establish an expert group is a good initial step, but solutions must not be delayed. What's important are swift and concrete outcomes," said Özdemir. The Committee of European Wine Companies (CEEV) recently called for the establishment of a cross-party working group on wine.
The Council for Agriculture and Fisheries consists of the responsible ministers from all EU member states and usually meets once a month. Representatives from the EU Commission responsible for agriculture and rural development, health and food safety, or maritime affairs and fisheries also attend these meetings. The next session is scheduled for June 24th.
