AREV calls for a study-based debate about the GMO-reform without "ideology"

BELGIUM (Brussel) - Political and self-regulatory professional representatives of Germany, Austria, Spain, France, Georgia, Italy, Luxembourg, Rumania and the Czech Republic met in Brussels late January. The meeting was initiated by the AREV  (L'Europe de la civilisation de la vigne et du vin), which represents 75 wine-growing regions from 19 countries. The purpose was the now 2-year-old reform of the so-called GMO-wine (Mutual market organization for wine, which is often also called the EU-winemarket reform), in order to analyze its impact and discuss enterpreneurial initiatives.

The ideas, wishes and proposals made at this meeting will also be included in the commission's report, which will be available to the council and parliament in late 2012. Further, the report will be based on a scientific study for the reform research on behalf of AREV.

During their discussions about the short-term and long-term impact of the wine market reform on everyone, companies, regional corporations, their habitat and each wine-growing region, all participants agreed that, even though some of these means are really beneficial, like national financial quotas that enable a stronger subsidiary administration or the export help on international markets, the future for most wine-producing companies, not to mention the income for the latter, does not look very good on the other hand.

Despite extensive clearings, the main purpose of the reform, namely the rebirth of the wine market and an improved competitive edge, still seems far away, while the controversial idea of completely liberalizing all plant laws starting in late 2015, will simply worsen the situation.

AREV's president, Jean-Paul Bachy, who is also president of the region Champagne-Ardenne, likes to remind everyone that viticulture plays an important role in traditional regions with indications of origin not only for in the social and economic union, but also for the environment and the landscape of these regions. Further, he emphasized the necssity to protect regulating tools, which over centuries have formed today's natural habitat and the landscape of the wine regions; after all, the latter represent identities and give wine production some personality. Among all other agricultural products he emphasized the specific personality of the product wine, which we should all appreciate, particularly because the vineyards do not show any growing alternative.

THE DUO VINEYARD / REGION IS OF HIGH IMPORTANCE

The president highlighted worrysome financial situations of many of the wineries in most member regions and he told again about the necessity to balance the impact of each surplus and scarcity that happens for every wine production process.

The system of planting rights and all the concepts for regulating offer and demand, protected designation of origins and "terroir" are important tools, which have proved to be significant in the first half of the 20th century. The system of planting rights, particularly, is an instrument that enables a working economy of producing regions in the interest of the mutual legacy of the "Duo wine-growing region/region", which now has the AREV as its representative and spokesperson.

Getting rid of this system will inevitably lead to a switch to mashine production in all the regions (from the hills down to the flats) with cheaper employees and competition between the wines, since there will be no production pressure.

NECESSARY LASTING PERSPECTIVES

The self-regulatory professional representatives of the AREV have pointed out that young vintners are already hesitating to take over medium-sized and small firms, since they would have do deal with industrialization of viticulture. There is a notable decline in training offers for young winemakers in the wine sector. Many wine-making establishments are taking back their investments in light of the impact that the GMO's rules will have on them and viticulture. In certain areas, AREV has already noticed certain prepositionings of large and financially strong businesses that want to increase their firms, which will have a drastic impact on smaller companies of course.

STUDY-BASED DEBATE WITHOUT AN IDEOLOGIC BACKGROUND

Thus, the international bureou of the AREV has come to the conclusion that a scientific Europe-wide study should be initiated, which will evaluate the social, economic and environmental impact of this EU reform. Also, it addresses the new commissioner Dacian Ciolos and the European Parliament members as well as the heads of state and chancellors of the EU member countries with wine-growing regions (17, soon 18 of 27) and it calls for them to use this report in order to evaluate the study in their own intererest and without any "ideologies". (arev - red.yoopress)