EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/550

(2004/C 78 E/0585)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3447/03

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 November 2003)

Subject: Marketing problems and imports in the wine sector

In recent years the situation of winegrowers and cooperative wine cellars in Portugal has worsened, due to enormous problems caused by the fact that wine production far outstrips demand. The problems in marketing wine, at prices which are only minimally fair to the producers, are worsening with the enormous import of wine from various countries, above all since 2001, which is delaying payments to farmers by two or more years. In some cases, these are imports of bulk wines without any quality wine P.S.R. classification.

1. Is the Commission aware of the seriousness of the situation in Portugal? What measures does it intend to take to support Portuguese winegrowers?

2. Is the Commission prepared to authorise and fund an emergency wine distillation (both ‘verde’ and ‘maduro’), with subsidised prices, so as to improve the market?

3. What aid could be considered to support the financial recovery of the Cooperative Wine Cellars and set up a fund for seasonal loans, so as to guarantee their funding and the rapid release of the delayed payments to the winegrowers?

4. What measures does the Commission intend to improve wine quality, preventing blending, particularly of wines imported from third countries, and the importation of bulk wines, so that these are not then bottled and classified as quality wines P.S.R.?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(9 January 2004)

The Commission is aware that for about two years now the wine market in Portugal has been in a less satisfactory state. The situation has twice been relieved by crisis distillation enabling a total of 700 000 hl of wine to be withdrawn from the market. Of this 200 000 hl was quality wine, mainly Vinho Verde. We have received no separate figures for the cooperatives' stock position.

Crisis distillation cannot be opened except at the official request of a Member State backed up by a detailed explanation of why it is needed. After scrutinising this and consulting the Management Committee for Wine we decide whether distillation will be opened. In the current wine year Portugal has not so far made any application.

Neither the common market organisation for wine nor the rural development policy make any provision for aid for the financial recovery of wine cooperatives. A national measure could be envisaged only if it met the criteria set out in the Guidelines for State aid in the agriculture sector (2000/C28/02).

Turning to the problems in connection with non-EU wine imported into Portugal that the Honourable Member raises, we point out that according to the customs authorities' figures such imports have been negligible (1 130 hl in 2001, 1 730 hl in 2002). In any case Article 44(14) of Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 (1) prohibits blending of non-EU wine with Community wine. Policing of observance of the Community rules, including those on the presentation and naming of wines sold on the market, is the Member State's responsibility. Lastly, the rules on international trade do not permit a prohibition on importation of bulk wines.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in wine, OJ L 179, 14.7.1999.