Iași, Romania – From June 3 to 5, the city of Iași hosted the 30th Plenary Session of the Assembly of European Wine Regions (AREV), bringing together representatives from France, Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Romania and the Azores Islands. During the event, participants analyzed the current situation and the future of the wine sector in Europe.
The General Assembly, chaired by Emiliano García-Page Sánchez, President of the AREV, and Costel Alexe, President of the Iași County Council, brought together politicians and professionals from European viticulture. On the first day, the European Council of Wine Professionals (CEPV), co-chaired by Aly Leonardy and Marius Sorin DANGĂ, debated the reduction of the use of phytosanitary products, the authorization of alternative products for organic production, vineyards on steep slopes, the new genomic techniques (NTGs) and the implications of the delegated act relating to agriculture for the financing of sustainable activities (EU Taxonomy), elements that will be included in an AREV manifesto.
Some of the highlighted topics were the PARSADA study, a strategic action plan to anticipate the withdrawal of active substances and the development of alternative techniques for crop protection. Attendees discussed the impact of the disappearance of authorized molecules and the current state of research in NTGs, focused on creating plant varieties resistant to drought, pests and diseases, or the creation of the High-Level Group by the European Commission, for the analysis and definition of the future of the European wine sector, especially given the next review of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
The Assembly was attended by Professor Lucia Cintia Colibaba, Vice Dean of Research of the Faculty of Horticulture of the “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” University of Life Sciences Iași, who highlighted the importance of viticulture in the Iași region, famous for its vineyards and high-quality wines.
The event, organized by the Iași County Council, had the collaboration of the wineries of Cotnari, Hermeziu, Strunga, Gramma and Domeniile Bohotin. AREV members had the opportunity to learn about the importance of viticulture in Iași, a region with a unique terroir and favorable climatic conditions, highlighting local varieties such as Fetească Neagră, Fetească Albă and Grasa de Cotnari.
At the end of the General Assembly, its president, Emiliano García-Page Sánchez, president of the Spanish region of Castilla-La Mancha, after seven years at the head of the organization, concluded his mandate, thereby giving way to a renewal, in parallel to what is taking place within the European institutions following the call for elections, to incorporate new elements that continue to defend the interests of winegrowers and European wine regions before the new European government that is defined. In this last act as president of the AREV, García-Page has taken the opportunity to offer that the city of Toledo, the capital of the autonomous community that he presides, be the venue for the next meeting of this organization.
Finally, the AREV, in an emotional ceremony, presented a commemorative medal to the outgoing President, from the hands of its vice-president, Aly Leonardy and the vice-president of the Iași County Council, Marius Sorin DANGĂ, in gratitude for his leadership, contribution and dedication to the defense of the European wine sector.
