GERMANY, FRANCE AND OTHERS STRONGLY OPPOSE WINE REFORM
As expected, not all European countries are embracing the EU’s wine reform to end huge surpluses and focus on quality over quantity. Led by France and Germany, countries including Spain, Portugal, Italy, Austria and Hungary hold grievances against the following practices:
1. Ending subsidies for the massive distillation of unsellable wine into industrial products, which is a huge drain on the EU wine budget
2. Ripping up unprofitable vineyards in exchange for euros
3. Adopting New World practices, like adding wood chips and making production and wine labels more consumer-friendly
4. Banning wineries from adding sugar to their wine
5. Allow wealthy vineyards to expand without restrictions
As it turns out, most of the aforementioned countries, particularly Germany and France, either want no changes to be made or at least want more flexibility than the proposal currently allows. Germany in particular is outraged over the proposed ban on sugar, which the country considers one of its traditional methods.
Eastern European farmers, which are generally poorer, are more likely to dig up their vines in exchange for EU money, even if surplus production is not a major concern there. This, many believe, is unfair.
Despite a negative reaction from several EU member states yesterday, the Commission intends to continue with its proposal as it is. A spokesperson commented that countries such as Italy, Spain and Greece were surprisingly more receptive than initially expected and that France has expressed a willingness to negotiate.
EU Farm Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel of course believes the EU is in dire need of the proposed reforms.
"I have been visiting the (wine growing) regions, listening to what they have to say. They all agree that reform is necessary. We have increasing import, increasing production and our consumption is going slightly down, so if we continue sitting on our hands, then we will damage European wine production," said Mariann as reported by the AP.
European countries have always been more reluctant to embrace anything outside of tradition, which is a huge part of their charm. This is coming from a US perspective, of course, and is clearly skewed as a result.
A deal is expected to be made by 2008, but it looks like much more haggling is due before anything will be decided.
1. Ending subsidies for the massive distillation of unsellable wine into industrial products, which is a huge drain on the EU wine budget
2. Ripping up unprofitable vineyards in exchange for euros
3. Adopting New World practices, like adding wood chips and making production and wine labels more consumer-friendly
4. Banning wineries from adding sugar to their wine
5. Allow wealthy vineyards to expand without restrictions
As it turns out, most of the aforementioned countries, particularly Germany and France, either want no changes to be made or at least want more flexibility than the proposal currently allows. Germany in particular is outraged over the proposed ban on sugar, which the country considers one of its traditional methods.
Eastern European farmers, which are generally poorer, are more likely to dig up their vines in exchange for EU money, even if surplus production is not a major concern there. This, many believe, is unfair.
Despite a negative reaction from several EU member states yesterday, the Commission intends to continue with its proposal as it is. A spokesperson commented that countries such as Italy, Spain and Greece were surprisingly more receptive than initially expected and that France has expressed a willingness to negotiate.
EU Farm Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel of course believes the EU is in dire need of the proposed reforms.
"I have been visiting the (wine growing) regions, listening to what they have to say. They all agree that reform is necessary. We have increasing import, increasing production and our consumption is going slightly down, so if we continue sitting on our hands, then we will damage European wine production," said Mariann as reported by the AP.
European countries have always been more reluctant to embrace anything outside of tradition, which is a huge part of their charm. This is coming from a US perspective, of course, and is clearly skewed as a result.
A deal is expected to be made by 2008, but it looks like much more haggling is due before anything will be decided.
posted at 2:22 PM
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