The Assembly of European Wine Regions (AREV) participated in the “High-Level Group” organized by the European Commission, which took place this Wednesday in Brussels. Representing European wine regions, AREV reaffirmed its priorities to combine tradition and innovation in addressing the sector’s challenges.
During its intervention, AREV highlighted several development axes, including the importance of digital innovation and precision viticulture, as well as the integration of new genomic techniques (NGTs), promoting sustainable territorial development through the use of an accessible observatory tailored to the sector’s needs, keeping pace with consumption trends.
AREV also underscored the need for balanced environmental regulation and simplification of often redundant administrative restrictions. In-depth reflection is required to find concrete solutions to cross-border sales issues, whether online or in physical stores. Additionally, AREV has called for enhanced support for wine promotion to ensure the sector’s resilience and competitiveness in the face of economic, climatic, and consumption challenges.
Under the direction of DG AGRI, AREV proposes working in coherence with DG Health, DG Environment, and DG Trade to adapt policies to the realities of the wine world.
Key Proposals from AREV:
- Strengthening the next CAP by integrating the specificities of production systems, such as sloping vineyards, and improving risk management tools.
- Promoting innovation in new types of wines and new forms of consumption, including natural wines or low-alcohol wines.
- Harmonizing regulations regarding organic wine certification in Europe and the United States.
- Developing precision viticulture through the use of drones and other technological innovations.
- Implementation of new genomic techniques (NGTs) for sustainable viticulture.
- Promotion of domestic wine consumption and export, with more flexible and simplified programs.
- Opposition to a large-scale uprooting policy, advocating for tools that allow production to be adapted to demand while avoiding the relocation of viticulture to other continents.
