EC to convert and restructure of vineyards

Food & Drink Weekly, Sept 15, 2003

EC to convert and restructure of vineyards: The European Commission has set aside 443 million [euro] for the restructuring and conversion of vineyards in the 2003/04 marketing year. As usual, the cash will be shared out among member states according to their share of the total EU area under vines.

Spain will get about 36% of the total, followed by Italy (29%) and France (22%). The subsidies are part of the EU's drive to promote up-market wines and are usually only given where the vineyard is converting from cheaper varieties. The proposed budget is identical to that for 2002/03 and similar to the sums allocated in the two years before that. EU Farm Commissioner Franz Fischler said: "Improvement of the quality of vineyards and the alignment of supply on demand for some types of vine products is a priority. The restructuring and conversion programs for vineyards, financed by the EU, offer farmers the necessary support for these actions. The three previous marketing campaigns saw a great deal of grower interest in the scheme".