The Assembly of European Wine Regions (AREV) is delighted with the agreement on the reform of the village agricultural policy. It offers the stability and visibility necessary for the wine-producing regions, at a time when viticulture is strongly affected by the economic repercussions of the COVID crisis, by the commercial turbulence linked to BREXIT as well as by the climatic hazards that have affected numerous vineyards.
AREV is particularly pleased with the extension of the planting rights regime until 2045, which will allow responsible management of the evolution of surfaces. In the same way, the battle for the recognition of steeply sloping vineyards has borne fruit with the expected recognition, which will allow for reinforced support.
The operational programs, which have proven their effectiveness, are naturally maintained and will continue to support investment, promotion, and organization of the profession. Nutritional labeling will be done in a pragmatic and dematerialized way, which is a common-sense decision that should inspire future debates in the framework of the Farm to Fork.
This new CAP will allow progress in economic and environmental performance, particularly through reinforced green investments and ambitious agri-environmental measures, which make room for the specificity of the vineyard, particularly with the exemption from the obligation of non-production of part of the land, initially envisaged by the Commission and which was impractical.
The opening up to deal with dealcoholized wines will be done according to modalities that remain to be specified in future implementation acts, in full compliance with OIV standards, and AREV will be particularly vigilant in this regard.
It is also worth noting the possibility of mobilizing part of the envelope of direct payments to support the development of risk management tools, which constitutes an important step forward for the dissemination of these essential tools at a time of climate change.
It is now up to the Member States to make full use of the tools at their disposal in the framework of the future strategic plans and for the Commission to be reactive in the use of the tools. It is also appropriate to salute the work of the Portuguese Presidency, which played a decisive role in the final phase of the negotiations, as well as MEPs such as Peter Jahr, Anne Sander, Paolo de Castro, Irène Tolleret, Nobert Lins, Christophe Hansen, Herbert Dorfmann and Pina Picierno, who have once again shown their commitment to European viticulture.