Planting Rights : Meeting of the High Level Group Firmness and Vigilance are needed
Brussels, April 20, 2012 – Further to the position adopted by 15 Member States and the European Parliament, Commissioner CIOLOS announced on the occasion of Green Week in Berlin, in January, the creation a High Level Group. The first group meeting was held on April 19th in Brussels. Professionals from the wine sector must remain firm and vigilant.
Planting Rights : First Show of Strength in Brussels
On March 19th, 9 Agriculture Ministers and more than 350 members of the national and European Parliament and of the wine sector met at the European Parliament in Brussels to call for planting rights to be maintained. Opposition to the liberalisation of planting rights scheduled for the 1st of January 2016 continues to grow, notably within the political sphere. Nine Agriculture Ministers (France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Hungary; Luxembourg, Malta, Roumania and Finland) and more than 350 MEPs, MPs and representatives of the wine sector joined forces to ask the European Commission to come back on the 2008 decision. "We welcome the recent opening gestures of the Commission but we need more. The creation of a high level group on the topic is positive but the 19th of March event demonstrates the importance of the challenges that we face and the need for a swift response on this issue", stated Ricardo Ricci Curbastro, Président of EFOW. The event was organised by MEPs Astrid Lulling and Michel Dantin, and brought together a number of other elected representatives from different political parties. The European Parliament which has co-decision power on agriculture related matters is committed to make its voice heard. Michel Dantin, rapporteur on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the Single Common Market Organisation (CMO) announced that he will table an amendment to reintroduce planting rights in his report. Representatives of the wine sector welcomed the commitment and voluntarism of the Ministers and other decision-makers. "It is crucial to preserve planting rights for all wines in the context of the CAP reform. We need more than just a discussion and await a concrete decision in the coming months", stated Ricardo Ricci Curbastro, Président of EFOW.
Planting rights: Bulgaria is against the liberalisation
Brussels, March 7. At a meeting in Paris on the 2nd of March, between the French Agriculture Minister, Mr. Le Maire, and his Spanish and Bulgarian counterparts, Mr. Arias Cañete and Mr. Naydenov, to address the CAP reform, the issue of the impending liberalisation of planting rights was discussed. The French and Spanish Ministers reiterated their position. The Bulgarian Minister, who had not yet taken a position, announced on this occasion that his country was also opposed to the liberalisation of planting rights. To date, 15 Member States have taken position against the liberalisation of planting rights. For a qualified majority in the Council 40 votes are still needed. Almost all wine producing Member States have taken a stand on this issue.
Droits de plantation : la Bulgarie prend position contre la libéralisation
Bruxelles, le 7 mars. A l’occasion d’une rencontre à Paris le 2 mars 2012 entre le Ministre de l’Agriculture français, M. Bruno le Maire, et ses deux homologues espagnol et bulgare, M. Arias Cañete et M. Naydenov, pour discuter de la réforme de la PAC, la question de la prochaine libéralisation des droits de plantation a été abordée. Les Ministres français et espagnol ont réitéré leur position. Le Ministre bulgare, qui n’avait pas encore pris position, a annoncé à cette occasion que son Pays était lui aussi opposé à la libéralisation des plantations A présent, 15 Etats membres ont pris position. Pour obtenir la majorité qualifiée au Conseil, il faut encore 40 voix. La quasi-totalité des Etats membres producteurs de vins a pris position sur ce sujet.
Planting rights: Greece is against the liberalisation
Brussels, 30 November 2011. Today a 13th Member State has taken position against the liberalisation of planting rights, which will take place on January 1st 2016. To obtain the qualified majority in the Council, we still need 54 votes. As explained by Riccardo Ricci Curbastro, President of EFOW: "The Commission cannot remain silent when 13 Member States that represent 66% of the population and 97% of the total wine production in the EU ask to reopen the debate. We call on the European Parliament and the Council to show political courage to help us in our fight for planting rights in the framework of the CAP".