WRITTEN QUESTION E-3091/01 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Progress with implementation of restructuring programmes for Greek vineyards.
Date: 2001-11-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, Greece, aid for restructuring, expropriation, grubbing premium, production policy, replanting, vineyard

6.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134 E/197

(2002/C 134 E/204)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3091/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 November 2001)

Subject: Progress with implementation of restructuring programmes for Greek vineyards

Wine-growers’ organisations and the professional organisation representing the sector have voiced deep
concern over the progress made in implementing the programmes for restructuring Greek vineyards,
drawing up the vineyard register, the manner in which the rights to plant new vineyards are used, and the
legalisation of previously unlawful vineyards. They are also concerned that
the financial aid from
Community resources for restructuring is extremely low compared with the cost of grubbing up and
replanting, which is a significant disincentive for growers.

1.
Can the Commission report on the progress of the programmes for the restructuring of Greek
vineyards, the vineyard register etc.? Are there delays and to what are they attributable? What implications
might they have?

2. Will the Commission consider the possibility of increasing the aid to facilitate restructuring for
growers, at least in areas such as islands where wine growing represents a solution to the inherent
problems they face (528 euro per 1 000 m2 is currently granted for grubbing up and replanting in
mountain and island regions)?

3.
Since in Greece vineyards are grubbed up following compulsory purchase of land for infrastructure
projects (building of airports and major roads), will further planting rights be approved to cover the loss of
vineyard capacity?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(7 January 2002)

The wine-growing industry’s concerns brought to our attention by the Honourable Member cover in
particular the implementation of vineyard restructuring plans, the management of replanting rights and the
legalisation of previously unlawful vineyards; these matters fall within the competence of the Member State
in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity that the Council has sought to incorporate into the basic
Regulation on the common organisation of
in wine (Council Regulation (EC)
No1493/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in wine (1)).

the market

(COM)

1.
An inventory of wine production potential must be presented in order to qualify for structural aid
under the COM for wine. That inventory was forwarded by Greece on 25 June 2001 and the Commission
adopted the relevant decision on 18 July 2001.

The Member States have sole responsibility for drawing up and implementing restructuring plans.

2.
Funds allocated to Greece by the Commission amounted to € 8,28 million for the 2000/01 wine year
(1 162 hectares) and € 7,32 million for 2001/02 (1 028 ha). The average aid per hectare is €7 125, not
€5 280 as the Honourable Member claims. At all events the Member State can increase or reduce the aid in
order to adapt it to the special conditions in each wine-growing area. Greece has not used its allocation for
the 2000/01 wine year.

3.
Replanting rights are granted under national provisions where compulsory purchase of wine-growing
areas takes place in the public interest. A Community legal basis has always existed for this and the new
COM for wine also makes similar provision for this (Article 3(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 and
Article 3(1) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1227/2000 of 31 May 2000 laying down detailed rules for
the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 on the common organisation of the market in
wine, as regards production potential (2)).

(1) OJ L 179, 14.7.1999.
(2) OJ L 143, 16.6.2000.