On the 1st of June 2018, the Commission published its legislative proposal for the CAP post 2020. Linchpin of the Commission proposal is the implementation of a new delivery model: the Commission will set the objectives and Member states will decide which measures to adopt to reach these objectives. Member states will laid down a so called “CAP strategic plan” which will be assessed and approved by the Commission.
Concerning this new structure, independent winegrowers believe that a less “common” policy, as imagined by the Commission proposal, could lead to a distortion of competition among Member states and territories. Concerning the budget, the proposal foreseen a cut of 365€ bn for 2021 – 2027. In constant prices this would mean a 15% cut to CAP.
CEVI believes that in order to always meet agricultural challenges that Europe is facing, it is essential that the CAP budget (direct payment and rural development) is stable by amounting to constant euros. Agriculture cannot be the adjustment variable of the EU budget.
The maintenance of the CMO specific measures, as asked to the Agricultural Commissioner by the European wine sector, is a good news. Although, independent winegrowers are perfectly aware that the overall cut will also affect the wine sector, of about 5%. Nevertheless, CEVI welcome the maintenance of the Wine NSPs (National Support programmes) that have proven to be useful and efficient tools for Member States to improve the competitiveness of their wine sector and contribute to the overall increase in competitiveness of European Union wines.
The WNSPs provide Member States with a consistent and tailored toolbox and appropriate budget enabling them to manage the development of the sector in a harmonised and consistent manner, whilst providing for a flexible and coherent approach across the EU.
FOCUS ON THE IMPACT OF WINE SECTOR:
The proposal will bring some changes for the wine sector. More precisely, concerning the system of the vine planting authorisations introduced in 2013. With the new proposal the Commission enable Member States with more flexibility in counting their annual planting authorisations. In fact, each Member States, will have the possibility to decide how to base its calculation: on the previous year (N-1), as required by the actual system, or to count on the basis of the first distribution on the 31st of July 2015. The ratio behind this change is to prevent the decreasing of the actual area planted with vines in some Member States (mainly Italy and Greece) and the consequent loss of market share.
Concerning grape varieties, the Commission proposal will introduce two major changes. The first one is to allowed Member States to classify the following – and previously banned – grape varieties: Noah, Othello, Isabelle, Jacquez, Clinton and Herbemont. More generally member states may classify varieties belonging to Vitis Vinifera or Vitis Labrusca and hybrids between Vinifera, Labrusca and other species of the genus Vitis. Today these varieties are only allowed for the production of PGIs wine, if the Commission proposal will be adopted, these varieties will be introduced as well in the PDOs wines. With the changing climate in Europe and throughout the world, independent winegrowers are perfectly conscious about the challenges that the sector have to face in the forthcoming years, but these changes deserve a deeper reflections.
In its proposal the European Commission foreseen as well the introduction of de-alcoholised and partially de-alcoholised wines and grapevine products.