WRITTEN QUESTION E-3447/03 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Marketing problems and imports in the wine sector.
Date: 2003-11-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Portugal, agricultural cooperative, agricultural situation, common organisation of markets, distillation, import (EU), product quality, support price, viticulture, wine, wine of superior quality

C 78 E/550

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

In October the Sicilian Regional Government’s fisheries department sent the Fisheries Directorate-General a
letter on the matter, and the Commission is still examining the dossier in the light of the abovementioned
Guidelines (2) and Regulation.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 of 17 December 1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrangements

regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector, OJ L 337, 30.12.1999, p. 12.

(2) OJ C 19, 20.1.2001.

(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.

Is the Commission aware of the seriousness of the situation in Portugal? What measures does it

1.
intend to take to support Portuguese winegrowers?

Is the Commission prepared to authorise and fund an emergency wine distillation (both ‘verde’ and

2.
‘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).

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/551

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.

(2004/C 78 E/0586)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3453/03

by Philip Claeys (NI) to the Commission

(20 November 2003)

Subject: Political position adopted by EU officials’ trade union TAO-AFI on night flights over outlying

districts of Brussels

At the beginning of November the EU officials’ trade union TAO-AFI adopted a public position on night
flights from Zaventem airport. Controversy has been raging for months on the Belgian political scene as to
which communes the flight paths in question should pass over. It might be possible to reach consensus by
means of a distribution plan which shares the nuisance caused by night flights among various parts of the
periphery of Brussels and the adjoining communes. Evidently the officials’ trade union has a relatively large
number of members living in the residential communes to the east of Brussels, and objects to the
possibility that the area in question might also have to bear a share of the nuisance. The union argues,
inter alia, that rents are high in these communes and that many people went to live there at a time when
there was no suggestion that Zaventem airport might cause noise at night.

TAO-AFI’s intervention has annoyed residents of the periphery of Brussels who consider that some
solidarity should be displayed in sharing the inconvenience caused by the proximity of Zaventem airport.
All this is doing nothing to promote the image of the European institutions in Brussels.

Is it normal and desirable that a trade union representing European officials should adopt such
controversial positions in public?

Has the matter been discussed with TAO-AFI? If so, what were the conclusions?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(13 January 2004)

The decision of trade unions and staff associations in the Institutions to express views on matters of public
interest and concern are solely the responsibility of
those
organisations do not speak on behalf of the Commission.

the organisations. Obviously,

therefore,

The Commission has not discussed the issue of night flights to and from Zaventem airport with the
organisation referred to in the question or with any other staff union or association.