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MEPs approved the provisional agreement reached with member states last December with 625 votes in favour and 15 against, with 11 abstentions.
The new package of legislations is designed to address the challenges facing winegrowers and help them adapt to market developments. It clarifies labeling rules for alcohol-free and reduced-alcohol wines, stating that the label “alcohol free” may only be used with an alcohol level below 0.05%, while wines with less than 30% of the brand’s usual alcohol content and no more than 0.5 % may be branded as having “reduced alcohol content”.
Further, the legislation provides greater flexibility and more resources for wine producers, including aid in the event of severe natural disasters, extreme weather events or plant diseases, the statement said. The measures also cover the promotion of wine tourism and exports. Programs aimed at promoting rural economic growth and promoting quality European wines in third countries may receive up to 60% EU co-financing.
Member states may provide an additional 30% support to small and medium-sized enterprises and 20% to larger companies.
In a press release, Fidesz MEPs Csaba Dömötör and Enikő Győri said that the European wine sector was in serious crisis “and therefore needs targeted, rapid and substantial support”.
“European wines are increasingly being squeezed out by imports from third countries, with the market opening pushed by the European Commission further accelerating this process.”
Meanwhile, wine consumption is declining across Europe, they said.
Due to climate change, farmers have to adapt to extreme weather conditions more and more often; plant diseases that were previously uncommon are appearing in new regions, causing crop losses but also threatening the entire plantation structure and rural livelihoods in the longer term, they said.
Győri said the EU’s plan to allocate fewer resources to agriculture in the coming period was “of particular concern” as the wine sector would immediately feel the effects. She called on the Commission to immediately issue legislation enabling member states to start amending their strategies to implement the package.
“This needs to be done quickly, without tricks, hidden legal interpretations, or exceeding powers,” she emphasized.
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