Press Release: Wine: Profound reform will balance market, increase competitiveness, preserve rural areas and simplify rules for producers and consumers

The European Commission on 22 June 2006 called for a root-and-branch reform of the Common Market Organisation for wine. The plan aimed to increase the competitiveness of EU wine producers, strengthen the reputation of EU wines, win back market share, balance supply and demand and simplify the rules, while preserving the best traditions of EU wine production and reinforcing the social and environmental fabric of rural areas. The Commission was considering four options for reform, and came out clearly in favour of a radical reform model specific to the wine sector.

European Commission: DG Agriculture and Rural Development: The reform of the wine sector http://ec.europa.eu/comm/agriculture/capreform/wine/index_en.htm

European Commission: Memo: MEMO/06/245: EU wine reform: Background information on the wine sector, 22.6.06 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/06/245&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=fr

European Commission: Speech: SPEECH/06/403: Towards a sustainable European wine sector, 22.6.06 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/06/403&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

European Commission: Speech: SPEECH/06/403: EU wine sector: the need for urgent reform, 22.6.06 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/06/402&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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