Support for the wine sector

Question for written answer  E-000932/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Álvaro Amaro (PPE), José Manuel Fernandes (PPE), Maria da Graça Carvalho (PPE), Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar (PPE)

In response to the turmoil on the wine market resulting from the sanctions imposed by the United States and the constraints of the pandemic, the Commission has proposed measures seeking deadline extensions and more flexible EU legislation, accompanied by minimal funding, bearing in mind that we are now at the end of the budgetary period. These measures, which have now been extended until the end of 2021, are of little use to Member States, like Portugal, with limited budgetary capacity to intervene directly.

Given the fact that the disruption is likely to persist, slowing the economic recovery, one would expect to see other measures introduced to revive the wine market, targeting, in particular, SMEs, which rely more heavily on the HORECA market, and governments encouraged to act in parallel by, for example, reducing indirect taxes on consumption or agricultural inputs.

In view of the above:

• 1.Why does the Commission not increase the funds available under the support measures?
• 2.Why does it not introduce longer-term measures to increase the flexibility in promotion and market prospection?
• 3.Is it considering allowing Member States to support companies’ cash flow, or any other measures specifically targeting SMEs?

Supporter[1]

• [1] This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Paulo Rangel (PPE)