(i)

With EUR 100 billion in market value, it contributes EUR 130 billion to the EU’s GDP. European wines were exported to 194 different countries in 2022, with a total export value of EUR 17,9 billion, playing a crucial role in which solely the wine exports reduced the EU’s balance of trade deficit by 3,7 %.

(ii)

It also contributes to social support by generating a total of 2,9 million jobs, which are revitalising rural areas facing depopulation. This sector exhibits exceptional productivity, yielding higher added value per employee compared to similar activities in other sectors at every stage of the value chain (+ 90 % for grape growing vs crop and animal production; + 16 % for winemaking vs manufacturing; and + 5 % for wine commercialisation vs food and beverage activities). Additionally, wine farms are 15 % more profitable than the average farm in the EU, offering a viable economic alternative for people living in rural areas.

(iii)

With more than 3,1 million hectares of vines in areas where there are often no economic alternatives, the wine sector plays a crucial role in maintaining population in rural areas. The majority of the 2,2 million EU wine holdings are small-scale operations but, despite, their size, these vineyards contribute significantly to rural economies and the EU’s wine production. Rural regions with expanding vineyards have nearly managed to maintain their population levels, experiencing only a slight decrease of 0,4 %. In contrast, areas with shrinking vineyards have seen a significantly – 6,5 times – greater decline (by 2,6 %) in the size of their populations.

(iv)

The wine sector’s total fiscal contribution was nearly EUR 52 billion in 2022 with social contributions accounting for over 57 % of it, representing approximately 0,7 % of the EU’s general government expenditure.

(v)

Beyond its direct economic implications, the European wine sector represents a cultural tradition deeply rooted in the societal landscape. This sector reflects a diverse heritage, shaped by centuries of history and innovation, where each terroir contributes to creating a true mosaic of production regions. Viticulture is not only about wine production; it also embodies a way of life, a collective identity and a connection to a territory. The EU wine package should therefore aim not only to secure competitiveness and encourage investment but also to preserve this social and cultural fabric that unites citizens, by highlighting the synergies between the economy, environment and culture. This will help strengthen the spirit of wine regions and ensure a sustainable future for this iconic sector.

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due to the lack of a harmonised approach and the need to protect the Single Market, there is an urgent need to identify a language-free system based on a pictogram or symbol for identifying the electronic means. It is therefore crucial that the concrete harmonised modalities of a language-free solution be directly introduced in the basic act.

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due to the difficulty wine companies have in identifying when and whether a third country’s legislation does not allow, or diverges from, the EU’s provisions on the indication of the list of ingredients and the nutrition declaration, it is better to remove the requirement to indicate these particulars when EU wines are exported to third countries.

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eliminating one of the main obstacles to full efficiency of the measure, namely the time limit imposed for promotion activities aimed at consolidating market share. The proposed duration of support for promotion activities aimed at consolidating market outlets in third countries is still very restrictive; and

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proposing to review the rules that make it complex for wine operators to implement promotion programmes.