EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 4.6.2019

COM(2019) 246 final

2019/0121(NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the International Organisation for Vine and Wine (OIV)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1.Subject matter of the proposal

This proposal concerns the decision establishing the position to be taken on the Union's behalf in the General Assembly of the OIV on 19 July 2019 in connection with the envisaged adoption of OIV resolutions that may produce legal effects on Union law.

2.Context of the proposal

2.1.Particular status of the EU within OIV

Currently 47 States are members of the OIV, among which 20 are Member States of the Union. The EU is not a member of the OIV. However, since 20 October 2017, the OIV has granted to the Union the particular status provided for in Article 4 of the Rules of Procedure of the OIV, enabling it to intervene in the works of the Commissions, Sub-Commissions and groups of experts and attend the meetings of the General Assembly and the Executive Committee.

2.2.The OIV

The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) is an intergovernmental scientific and technical organisation active in the sector of vine, wine, wine-based drinks, table grapes, raisins and other vine products. The objectives of the OIV are (i) to inform of measures whereby the concerns of producers, consumers and other players in the vine and wine products sector may be taken into consideration, (ii) to assist other international organisations involved in standardisation activities and (iii) to contribute to international harmonisation of existing practices and standards.

2.3.The envisaged act of the OIV

The next General Assembly of OIV will be held in Switzerland on 19 July 2019. In that context and on the basis of discussions held within the group of experts meeting that took place in March and April 2019 in Paris, it can be expected that the following resolutions, producing legal effect on Union law, will be on the agenda of the General Assembly for adoption:

–draft Resolution OENO-MICRO 16-594A establishing a new oenological practice and draft Resolution OENO-MICRO 17-611 updating the objectives of an existing oenological practice. In accordance with Article 80(3)(a) and Article 90(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 1 , and with Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 606/2009 2 , these Resolutions will have legal effect on Union law;

–draft Resolutions OENO-TECHNO 15-586, 17-612, 17-613 updating the applications and objectives of the corresponding oenological practices, draft Resolution OENO-TECHNO 18-633 adding the use of a new substance to carry out the existing oenological practice and draft Resolution OENO-TECHNO 17-616 establishing a new oenological practice for wine production. In accordance with Article 80(3)(a) and Article 90(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, these Resolutions will have legal effect on Union law;

–draft Resolutions OENO-SPECIF 17-617, 18-646 and 18-650 updating the monographs that establish the purity and identification specifications of substances used in oenological practices. In accordance with Article 80(3)(a) and Article 90(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, and with Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 606/2009, these Resolutions will have legal effect on Union law;

–draft Resolutions OENO-SCMA 16-596, 17-619, 17-621 and draft Resolution OENO-SCMA 17-622 establishing new methods of analysis. OENO-SCMA 18-638 establishing a new method of analysis and fixing a new limit as reagrds the presence of lead in wine. In accordance with Article 80(3)(a) and Article 80(5) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, these Resolutions will have legal effect on Union law.

3.Position to be taken on the Union's behalf

The draft Resolutions that will be submitted to the vote of the next General Assembly of OIV have been extensively discussed between scientific and technical experts of the wine sector. They contribute to the international harmonisation of the wine standards and they will set a framework which will ensure fair competition in the trading of wine sector products. They should therefore be supported.

4.Legal basis

4.1.Procedural legal basis

4.1.1.Principles

Article 218(9) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) provides for decisions establishing ‘the positions to be adopted on the Union’s behalf in a body set up by an agreement, when that body is called upon to adopt acts having legal effects, with the exception of acts supplementing or amending the institutional framework of the agreement.’

Article 218(9) TFEU applies regardless of whether the Union is a member of the body or a party to the agreement 3 .

The concept of ‘acts having legal effects’ includes acts that have legal effects by virtue of the rules of international law governing the body in question. It also includes instruments that do not have a binding effect under international law, but that are ‘capable of decisively influencing the content of the legislation adopted by the EU legislature’ 4 .

4.1.2.Application to the present case

The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) is an intergovernmental scientific and technical organisation active in the sector of vine, wine, wine-based drinks, table grapes, raisins and other vine products. Currently 46 States are members of the OIV, among which 20 are Member States of the Union. The EU is not a member of the OIV. However, since 20 October 2017, the OIV has granted to the Union the particular status provided for in Article 4 of the Rules of Procedure of the OIV, enabling it to intervene in the works of the Commissions, Sub-Commissions and groups of experts and attend the meetings of the General Assembly and the Executive Committee.

Pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Regulation (EC) No 606/2009, certain resolutions adopted and published by the OIV have legal effect on EU law. The Union position with regard to those Resolutions in relation to matters within its competence should therefore be adopted by the Council and expressed at the OIV meetings by the Member States which are members of the OIV, acting jointly in the interest of the Union.

Therefore, the procedural legal basis for the proposed decision is Article 218(9) TFEU.

4.2.Substantive legal basis

4.2.1.Principles

The substantive legal basis for a decision under Article 218(9) TFEU depends primarily on the objective and content of the envisaged act in respect of which a position is taken on the Union's behalf. If the envisaged act pursues two aims or has two components and if one of those aims or components is identifiable as the main one, whereas the other is merely incidental, the decision under Article 218(9) TFEU must be founded on a single substantive legal basis, namely that required by the main or predominant aim or component.

4.2.2.Application to the present case

The main objective of the envisaged draft Resolutions relates to the harmonisation of wine standards and thus to the implementation of the common agricultural policy. Therefore, the substantive legal basis of the proposed decision comprises Article 43 of the TFEU.

4.3.Conclusion

The legal basis of the proposed decision should be Article 43, in conjunction with Article 218(9) TFEU.

5.Publication of the envisaged act

Not applicable

2019/0121 (NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the International Organisation for Vine and Wine (OIV)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43, in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1)The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) will examine and possibly adopt resolutions which will affect Union law in its next General Assembly of 19 July 2019. The Union is not a member of the OIV. However, the OIV has granted to the Union, on 20 October 2017, the particular status provided for in Article 4 of the Rules of Procedure of the OIV.

(2)20 Member States are members of the OIV. Those Member States have the possibility to propose amendments to the draft OIV resolutions and will be asked to adopt some of the draft OIV resolutions in the next OIV General Assembly on 19 July 2019.

(3)The Union position with regard to those resolutions in relation to matters within its competence should therefore be adopted by the Council and expressed at the OIV meetings by the Member States which are members of the OIV, acting jointly in the interest of the Union.

(4)Pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council 5 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 606/2009 6 , certain resolutions adopted and published by the OIV affect Union law.

(5)Article 80(3)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 provides that the Commission is to take into account the oenological practices and methods of analysis recommended and published by the OIV when it authorises oenological practices.

(6)Article 80(5) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 provides that the Commission, when laying down methods of analysis for determining the composition of the products of the wine sector, is to base those methods on any relevant methods recommended and published by the OIV, unless they would be ineffective or inappropriate in view of the objective pursued by the Union.

(7)Article 90(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 provides that products of the wine sector imported into the Union are to be produced in accordance with oenological practices authorised by the Union pursuant to that Regulation or, prior to that authorisation, produced in accordance with oenological practices recommended and published by the OIV.

(8)Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 606/2009 provides that, where they are not laid down by the Commission, the purity and identification specifications of substances used in oenological practices are to be those laid down and published by the OIV.

(9)Draft Resolution OENO-MICRO 16-594A establishes a new oenological practice. Draft Resolution OENO-MICRO 17-611 updates the objectives of an existing oenological practice. In accordance with Article 80(3)(a) and Article 90(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, and with Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 606/2009, these Resolutions will have legal effect on Union law.

(10)Draft Resolutions OENO-TECHNO 15-586, 17-612 and 17-613 update the applications and objectives of the corresponding oenological practices. Draft Resolution OENO-TECHNO 18-633 adds the use of a new substance to carry out the existing oenological practice. Draft Resolution OENO-TECHNO 17-616 establishes a new oenological practice for wine production. In accordance with Article 80(3)(a) and Article 90(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, these Resolutions will have legal effect on Union law.

(11)Draft Resolutions OENO-SPECIF 17-617, 18-646 and 18-650 update the monographs that establish the purity and identification specifications of substances used in oenological practices. In accordance with Article 80(3)(a) and Article 90(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, and with Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 606/2009, these Resolutions will have legal effect on Union law.

(12)Draft Resolutions OENO-SCMA 16-596, 17-619, 17-621 and 17-622 establish new methods of analysis. Draft Resolution OENO-SCMA 18-638 establishes a new method of analysis and fixes a new limit as regards the presence of lead in wine. In accordance with Article 80(3)(a) and Article 80(5) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, these Resolutions will have legal effect on Union law.

(13)These draft resolutions have been extensively discussed between scientific and technical experts of the wine sector. They contribute to the international harmonisation of the wine standards and will set a framework which will ensure fair competition in the trading of products of the wine sector. They should therefore be supported.

(14)In order to allow for the necessary flexibility during the negotiations ahead of the meeting of the General Assembly of the OIV, Member States which are members of the OIV should be authorised to agree to changes to these Resolutions provided that such changes do not alter the substance thereof,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be taken, on behalf of the Union, at the General Assembly of the OIV on 19 July 2019 is set out in the Annex and shall be expressed by the Member States which are Members of the OIV, acting jointly in the interest of the Union.

Article 2

1.Where the position referred to in Article 1 is likely to be affected by new scientific or technical information presented before or during the meetings of the OIV, Member States which are Members of the OIV shall request that the voting in the OIV General Assembly be postponed until the position of the Union is established on the basis of the new elements.

2.Following coordination, in particular on the spot, and without further decision of the Council establishing the position of the Union, the Member States which are Members of the OIV, acting jointly in the interest of the Union, may agree to changes to the draft Resolutions referred to in the Annex which do not alter the substance thereof.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels,

(1)    Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 671).

(2)    Commission Regulation (EC) No 606/2009 of 10 July 2009 laying down certain detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 479/2008 as regards the categories of grapevine products, oenological practices and the applicable restrictions (OJ L 193, 24.7.2009, p. 1).

(3)    Judgment of the Court of Justice of 7 October 2014, Germany v Council, C-399/12, ECLI:EU:C:2014:2258, paragraph 64.

(4)    Judgment of the Court of Justice of 7 October 2014, Germany v Council, C-399/12, ECLI:EU:C:2014:2258, paragraphs 61 to 64.

(5)    Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 671).

(6)    Commission Regulation (EC) No 606/2009 of 10 July 2009 laying down certain detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 479/2008 as regards the categories of grapevine products, oenological practices and the applicable restrictions (OJ L 193, 24.7.2009, p. 1).

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 4.6.2019

COM(2019) 246 final

ANNEX

to the

Proposal for a
COUNCIL DECISION

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the International Organisation for Vine and Wine (OIV)

ANNEX

List of draft Resolutions at step 7 that will be voted in the OIV general Assembly of July 2019