The Minister of Agriculture greeted on Friday the measures proposed by Brussels in the face of excessive wine production, which he classified as “a good step”, but assured that tearing up or picking “in green” grapes only as last resource.
The European Commission wants Member States to decide on measures to combat over-production wine production, as in Portugal, and offers plantation flexibility, among the measures this Friday proposed to help the sector.
“These are measures that go on the good way and that we have been requested at the various councils of Ministers of Agriculture in the European Union. Many of these measures have already anticipated,” said Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, José Manuel Fernandes, in statements to Lusa.
For the ruler, the promotion of Portuguese wines is “absolutely essential”, especially in markets outside the European Union.
The holder of the agriculture folder said that, for the first time, funds from – Vinha and Wine Institute and IVDP – Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro and Porto were unveiled, stressing that it was “nonsense” to captivate, when the country needed to promote.
José Manuel Fernandes also considered it important to make labeling clearer, as Portugal has already done, so that the consumer knows the origin of what he is drinking.
On the other hand, he pointed out that the flexibility of the authorizations will allow those who have a wide -ended planting right to the investment.
However, possibilities such as tearing up or harvesting in green only in the last resource.
Green harvest implies that producers be paid to catch the grapes before they are ready to be turned into wine, that is, the fruit is lying away.
“The start of the vineyard or the harvest in green are measures that we do not want to use. We want our wines to be known and enjoyed,” he said, added that the European Union Market, with 450 million people, should be used.
The former MEPS has said that this package of measures, to be approved, will not solve the structural problem of the wine sector, arguing that a budget reinforcement is also necessary.
Regarding the supervision actions with the operators of the Wine Sector, José Manuel Fernandes highlighted the determining character of this measure.
“We don’t want to make big seizures, but to prevent them from taking place. This prevention clearly worked,” he said.
Among the proposals on Friday, the commission wants the Member States to have measures, such as starting or excessive or harvesting in green (removal of non-mature grapes before vintage), to avoid surplus production, help to stabilize the market and protect producers from financial pressures.
On the other hand, Brussels proposes the flexibility of planting, especially with regard to the regime of replacing authorizations, requiring the approval of the EU and European Parliament Council – before it comes into force.
Regarding the search for new markets, the duration of EU -funded promotional campaigns for market consolidation in third countries will be extended from three to five years to ensure a better promotion of European wines.
The wine sector will also receive greater support in climate change, and the 27 may increase the maximum EU financial assistance up to 80% of investment costs eligible for investments for attenuation of climate change and adaptation to them.
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