CEVI in Brussels: Autumn Board Meeting & Wine Tasting with EU Representatives

A wine tasting at Iosono il Piemonte opened the programme on Tuesday evening. For policymakers, it was an opportunity to meet the producers behind the wines and hear directly about their vineyards, their work and the challenges of running family wine businesses.

CEVI President Samuel Masse was joined by Éric Sargiacomo, the European Parliament’s rapporteur on the revision of the Common Market Organisation (CMO) Regulation and Co-Chair of Parliament’s Wine Intergroup. His address focused on the place of Independent Winegrowers in the next CAP, a theme that ran through the evening’s conversations. CEVI’s message was clear: the future policy must meet the needs of family-run, artisan wineries through a mandatory wine sector programme, dedicated funding and support that Independent Winegrowers can access.

CEVI thanks the winegrowers and parliamentary teams who joined the event. Twelve MEPs attended in person or sent representatives: Benoît Cassart, Pascal Canfin, Herbert Dorfmann, Claire Fita, Christophe Grudler, Céline Imart, Arash Saeidi, Massimiliano Salini, Éric Sargiacomo, Antonella Sberna, Marko Vešligaj and Stéphanie Yon-Courtin. Representatives of Luxembourg’s Permanent Representation to the EU, Italian regions and Copa-Cogeca also took part. With wines from a range of European countries on offer, guests could explore the diversity of the sector while speaking to producers and representatives of their national federations.

The Board met the following morning at the Hôtel du Congrès, chaired by Samuel Masse. National federations from Belgium, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Czechia, Switzerland and Slovenia reviewed the harvest and the year’s wider developments. Most delegations reported good grape quality but a small harvest, with sales also slowing. Several highlighted the challenges of tackling flavescence dorée in their vineyards.

The post-2027 CAP formed the main part of the policy agenda. Members welcomed signs that Parliament’s draft compromise amendments reflected several of CEVI’s priorities, including a dedicated wine sector budget and fair access to support for small producers. They cautioned that extending the range of support measures must not mean more paperwork for winegrowers.
Members also restated their opposition to financing permanent grubbing-up from EU funds earmarked for the wine sector. In CEVI’s view, those resources should remain available to help businesses develop through investment, vineyard restructuring, promotion and wine tourism.

The Board then reviewed proposed changes to the rules governing viticultural practices. These included drone spraying, where the regulatory framework is being reconsidered under Omnibus X. CEVI has already put its position to the EU institutions.
Members also renewed their support for allowing electrodialysis to stabilise organic wines. This physical process requires no inputs and consumes less energy. CEVI has secured the removal of the ban as part of the revision of the EU Organic Regulation, paving the way for its possible authorisation.

CEVI’s next General Assembly will take place next spring in South Moravia, Czechia.