Wine making - Malta votes against EU's proposed wine reform
Malta voted against the proposed new wine common market organisation during the Council of Ministers meeting yesterday, the government said. The main reasons it gave for voting against were the concession that would allow the use of sugar enrichment...
Malta voted against the proposed new wine common market organisation during the Council of Ministers meeting yesterday, the government said.
The main reasons it gave for voting against were the concession that would allow the use of sugar enrichment in the production of wines, and, related to this, no adequate and permanent compensation mechanism for producers who use must and not sugar to produce their wines.
The government said that since its accession to the EU, Malta has pursued a quality policy culminating in this week's launch of Malta's first DOK wines.
"This policy will not be complemented by the implementation of the new wine common market organisation which does not improve consumers' ability to distinguish between different oenological practices."
The reform process started over a year ago, in June last year, when the European Commission launched its communication on the circumstances indicating the need for a reform of the wine sector.
The Commission initially indicated four distinct options by which to approach the reform.
Malta presented its position after consultations within the Wine Regulation Board, the official consultation body set up in accordance with the Wine Act (2001) composed of representatives of grape growers, wine producers and the government.
The Council had gone on to conclude that the option that called for a profound reform would be the best way forward.
This conclusion was in line with what Malta's stand, since it represented the best way forward to guarantee quality, control and sustainability, the government said.
The crux in the political discussions was reached yesterday when the Portuguese Presidency presented its latest compromise.
The proposed reform is viewed by Malta as containing a number of positive elements such as increased National Envelopes which would be instrumental in helping the sector in accordance with the exigencies of the different European regions. Also, the late negotiations substantially increased Malta's financial allocation.
Notwithstanding this, however, the government feels that the reform does not address fully the important objectives set out at the start of the reform.
It argues that it stops short of implementing a European-wide consumer-oriented quality policy aimed at creating a long-term sustainable wine regime with effective rules that balance supply and demand.
The main reasons it gave for voting against were the concession that would allow the use of sugar enrichment in the production of wines, and, related to this, no adequate and permanent compensation mechanism for producers who use must and not sugar to produce their wines.
The government said that since its accession to the EU, Malta has pursued a quality policy culminating in this week's launch of Malta's first DOK wines.
"This policy will not be complemented by the implementation of the new wine common market organisation which does not improve consumers' ability to distinguish between different oenological practices."
The reform process started over a year ago, in June last year, when the European Commission launched its communication on the circumstances indicating the need for a reform of the wine sector.
The Commission initially indicated four distinct options by which to approach the reform.
Malta presented its position after consultations within the Wine Regulation Board, the official consultation body set up in accordance with the Wine Act (2001) composed of representatives of grape growers, wine producers and the government.
The Council had gone on to conclude that the option that called for a profound reform would be the best way forward.
This conclusion was in line with what Malta's stand, since it represented the best way forward to guarantee quality, control and sustainability, the government said.
The crux in the political discussions was reached yesterday when the Portuguese Presidency presented its latest compromise.
The proposed reform is viewed by Malta as containing a number of positive elements such as increased National Envelopes which would be instrumental in helping the sector in accordance with the exigencies of the different European regions. Also, the late negotiations substantially increased Malta's financial allocation.
Notwithstanding this, however, the government feels that the reform does not address fully the important objectives set out at the start of the reform.
It argues that it stops short of implementing a European-wide consumer-oriented quality policy aimed at creating a long-term sustainable wine regime with effective rules that balance supply and demand.