CEEV open letter to Commissioner Fischer Boel and Portuguese presidency

Dear Commissioner,

Dear President of the Agriculture Council of Ministers,

At a time when the final stage of the negotiations regarding the Wine CMO reform has been engaged, we call upon the European Commission and the Member States to fully measure the importance of the profound reforms essential to ensuring the competitiveness and sustainable development of the EU wine sector.

An in-depth reform of the wine CMO is needed so that the EU wine sector will operate more in tune with market trends and, therefore, will allow European wines to be more competitive both on internal and external markets.

When it comes to the need for ensuring greater competitiveness and sustainable development in the European wine sector, it will be essential that the new regime takes on board the following:

• The lifting of the ban on new planting as soon as possible. However, it must be possible to rationalise the production potential of AOP Wines, also as to new plantations, through inter-branch organisations;

• A more proactive and ambitious European external trade strategy for EU Wine exports with appropriate support measures and funding for promotion, as proposed by the European Commission, complemented by appropriate tools to successfully accompany international negotiations by the EU;

• More flexibility for oenological practices so that they can be adopted by simplified procedures in the EU as soon as they are recommended by the OIV;

• Allowing the labelling of authentic and verifiable characteristic elements, such as varietals and/or year harvest, for all wines. However the use of the term “sparkling” should not be allowed for “aerated” wines.

• Support for promotion of European concepts in the internal market and in particular for initiatives regarding the provision of information relating to moderate and responsible drinking patterns for wine in the EU market.

• Affirmation of the specificity of the Wine CMO regarding labelling, presentation and designation of all Wines, in order to preserve the proper functioning of the internal market and to ensure appropriate consumer and health protection.

The CEEV considers such an in-depth reform as a very important opportunity for our sector to enhance its competitiveness in a highly competitive open international context and to ensure the sustainable development of the EU Wine sector.

Status quo is not a solution and we cannot afford to miss this opportunity.

Yours sincerely,

Pau Roca

Chairman of the CEEV “CMO Wine Reform” Commission

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The CEEV – Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins – is the representative body of the EU industry and trade in wines: still wines, aromatised wines, sparkling wines, liqueur wines and other vine products. Its membership includes 24 national associations. In 2006, EU wine exports totalled € 5.5 billion, contributing a net surplus of € 3 billion towards the EU's trade balance.

The European wine houses support the philosophy and aims of the common market organisation for wine reform proposed by the European Commission. The CEEV welcomes the European Commission's proposal, which represents a solid basis for negotiation. It will positively contribute and suggest improvements throughout the negotiations, with the sole aim of reinforcing the EU wine sector's competitiveness.

For more information

Jose Ramon Fernandez

Secretary General

CEEV - Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins

Av. des Arts 43, B-1040 Bruxelles.

ceev@ceev.be

www.ceev.be

Tel: (0032 2) 230 99 70

Fax: (0032 2) 513 02 18

GSM: 0032 (0) 495 28 18 42