The European Commissioner Phil Hogan (top left of the big screen) was sensitive to the statements of the representatives of the French viticulture.
From July 4 to 7, the Bordeaux Convention Center hosted the first national wine congress, at the initiative of four large organizations: Cnaoc, CCVF, VinIGP and independent viticulturists. “If we had to wait until 2017 for this first congress, it must have been particularly difficult to organize,” smiled Stéphane Héraud, president of the General Association of Wine Producers (AGPV).
- Each of the aforementioned producer organizations had decided.
- Under the impulse of their presidents who had expressed the idea in 2015.
- To converge in this same week at the beginning of July 2017 in Bordeaux to hold their respective general assembly.
- And organize.
- On Thursday the 6th in the afternoon.
- A great joint work session.
- The main decision-makers of French viticulture were present.
- Phil Hogan.
- The European Commissioner for Agriculture.
- Played the role of the American star.
The absence of the minister goes bad
Not Stéphane Travert, recently appointed Minister of Agriculture in the second government of Edouard Philippe. His absence was noted and commented on. And his hastily recorded video message was not enough to pass the pill. “Your sector is the excellence of French agriculture” was used above all to present a speech promoting the food industry in general. “In light of your success, I know you will have contributions to make. The minister also made an appeal to winegrowers with regard to crop insurance: “I believe that the sector, which is only covered 25%, should expand the use of this tool. “Stéphane Travert is committed to coming and getting to know the industry as soon as possible,” starting this summer. “
“Viticulture must be associated, like any large sector, with issues related to the next reform of the CAP. In Europe, wines represent 6% of gross domestic product (GDP) or 30,000 million euros. France accounts for half of these figures. »Stéphane Héraud, president of the AGPV
The place of European and French viticulture and its particularities in the framework of the reform of the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was the great issue of this unified congress. A reform that, due to the negotiations surrounding the United Kingdom’s exit from the Union, could be delayed. “In 2021 or 2022, according to Michel Dantin, Les Républicains MEP, constituency in the southeast. The question of financial resources that will disappear with Brexit reorganizes the structure of the general budget of the EU, the CAP in particular.
Stéphane Héraud introduced the session recalling that this first French viticulture congress had been desired precisely because of the reform of the CAP: “On an important issue, presenting our concerns in a unitary way seemed the most effective possible means. . “
Spokesperson for organizations representing the wine industry, Stéphane Héraud was the first to recall the strengths of French and European viticulture. The message will be crushed by everyone, throughout the afternoon, in session as in the corridors of the Palais des congrès. “Viticulture, of course, in particular, should be associated, like any major sector, with issues relating to the upcoming reform of the CAP. In Europe, wines represent 6% of gross domestic product (GDP) or 30,000 million euros. France accounts for half of these figures. In other words, the weight of French viticulture in Europe. “
Phil Hogan, who said “very happy to be in Bordeaux, without a doubt the world capital of wine”, continued in praise of the Girondists: “I think it is the best place to talk about wine. “
The European Commissioner then praised the global success of French and European viticulture, its significant weight in terms of jobs (3 million full-time equivalents in the EU) and regional planning, “viticulture is anchored in the regions rural areas “, and assured that” the next CAP reform should help maintain these results. “
The Irish politician recalled that “the 2008 wine CMO reform initiated the increase in the competitiveness of European winegrowers, proof of the interest of the European Union in the sector. The simplification aimed at bringing producers and consumers closer together, the preservation of Traditions and promotion were at the core of the 2008 reform, as well as the creation of national aid programs, which represented a real innovation within the framework of the CAP. 14 Member States benefited from an allocation of € 70 million in 2016 “.
The European Commissioner also mentioned the system of planting authorizations, adopted during the last reform of the CAP in 2013 and which came into force in 2016: “These new planting authorizations allow measured growth, while maintaining a regulatory tool. “
Phil Hogan will therefore have made a special appeal to the past and past CAP reform to try to reassure the public present about the state of mind in Brussels with regard to viticulture when it comes to drafting the new CAP. Wine growers remember the battles that had to be fought, in particular to maintain a regulatory system for vine plantations.
Stéphane Héraud relayed the messages shared by the entire French wine industry to the representative of the European Commission. A reform project, warnings in due form. Regarding quality, “we will not accept the horizontal policy applied to agri-food products. With PDOs and PGIs, our sector is structured throughout the European Union to guarantee a very high level of quality. ” Regarding the distribution of CAP aid: “We do not want aid per hectare, which would result in ineffective spraying, but they want the National Aid Program (PNA) to be maintained. » Labeling of calories, or even ingredients ,? Tourism seen as a turning point in terms of job creation, environment, climate insurance? So many issues that marked the words of Stéphane Héraud. “We want the next CAP reform to take into account the creation of new grape varieties that are more resistant to diseases and the consequences of climate change. sustainable viticulture “.
During the round table that followed the speeches by Stéphane Héraud and Phil Hogan, Bernard Farges (president of Efow and Cnaoc) drew attention to the significant increase in the weight of the environment in the upcoming reform of the Pac: “The Pac it suits society expectations, and we will grow wine, we are also in society and we have expectations, which for the most part are the same. We can imagine that the next Pac will be even greener. “
Alain Rousset, president of the Nouvelle Aquitaine region, presented his candidacy in his closing speech at the congress. “Faced with climate change, the question of new practices and new grape varieties is fundamental. And the industry can only advance on this issue by being united. “
Phil Hogan annonce la fin des droits de douane au Japon
Le Commissaire européen a semblé sincèrement à l?écoute de la filière et conscient des particularismes et des enjeux, mais son poste le rendra forcément arbitre entre mille autres revendications. Avec humour, il a pratiquement enfilé le costume du défenseur des vins en mettant en avant son indépendance de réflexion : « Comme vous le savez, je viens d?Irlande, et il n?y aucune possibilité pour l?Irlande de concurrencer les vins de France ou d?ailleurs en Europe. »
Avant de partir, Phil Hogan a annoncé ce qui restera comme la bonne nouvelle concrète de ce congrès, notamment vu de Champagne. « Je me réjouis que l?Union européenne et le Japon, aient signé aujourd?hui (le 6 juillet) un accord de libre échange. Cet accord est bon pour la filière viticole, notamment parce que le Japon a accepté une suppression de ses taxes locales sur les produits importés d?Europe. Concrètement, les entreprises françaises qui exportent au Japon feront une économie annuelle de 14O millions d?euros en droits de douane. » Cet accord prévoit aussi la poursuite de la reconnaissance des indications géographiques européennes sur l?archipel. Sur les quelques 200 IG d?ores et déjà reconnues, 28 sont des IG viticoles française, comme l?AOP Champagne. D?autres devraient suivre.
Stéphane Héraud a repris la parole une dernière fois, à l?issue de la table ronde qui a aussi montré que la viticulture, même unie, nourrissaient des divergences sur plusieurs sujets. Pour le président de tous les vignerons, « nous avons des différences d?approche, des différences dans l?exercice de nos métiers, mais sur tous les sujets forts, nous avons démontré que nous étions capables de faire front commun ».