(1)

The Union wine market is experiencing disturbances due to the reduction of domestic consumption and the weakening of exports to third countries for certain wine categories, in particular for red wines in certain production regions. This is generating recurrent situations of oversupply and accumulation of stocks in the wine production regions concerned. Exceptional measures were adopted by the Union in 2023 (2) to remove part of the accumulated stocks in the most affected regions from the market. However, market uncertainties and weak demand remain. Despite the comparatively moderate harvest in 2023, stocks of certain wine categories continue to accumulate in certain regions and the outlook for the coming years is uncertain and, consequently, such market disturbance is likely to continue or deteriorate.

(2)

Wine growers holding planting authorisations face the risk of sanctions if they do not use these authorisations to plant the corresponding vineyards. Consequently, the penalties and the brief validity period of the authorisations compel growers to proceed with planting. Waiving the penalties and extending the validity period in producing regions with market disturbances would alleviate this pressure on growers and therefore decrease the area planted with vineyards, thereby limiting the entry of additional productive vineyards into an already saturated market. These measures would also give growers with planting authorisations the flexibility to reconsider their planting decisions and take additional time to identify the grape varieties and wine types best suited to evolving market demands and regional climatic conditions. Therefore, in the regions most affected by market disturbances, in order to limit the area planted this year and the next years, the validity of planting authorisations that expire in 2024 or 2025 and have not yet been used as at the date of entry into force of this Regulation should be extended by three years.

(3)

In order to facilitate the decrease in the vineyards area, it is appropriate to provide holders of planting authorisations the opportunity to waive their authorisations for 2024 and 2025 without being subject to the administrative penalties referred to in Article 62(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013. For that purpose, they should inform the competent authorities of their intention not to use their authorisations nor to benefit from the extension of their validity.

(4)

Member States are to communicate to the Commission information about the implementation of this Regulation, to enable the Union to monitor the efficiency of the measure introduced hereby.

(5)

Any other measures available under Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 appear to be insufficient or not suitable to prevent an increase in vineyards area due to planting authorisations already delivered, and therefore to prevent additional surplus on the wine market.

(6)

In light of the ongoing market disturbance, as well as the short time available to allow wine growers to benefit from the extension of validity provided for in this Regulation, it is necessary to take immediate action. This Regulation should therefore be adopted pursuant to the urgency procedure laid down in Article 228 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

(7)

In view of the necessity to take immediate action, this Regulation should enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union,