Malta yesterday voted against the new proposed wine common market organisation during the Council of Ministers being held in Brussels, the Department of Information said yesterday.
The reform process started over a year ago in June 2006 when the European Commission launched its Communication on the circumstances indicating the need for a reform of the wine sector. In its Communication, the Commission had initially indicated four distinct options by which to approach the reform. The member states then proceeded to consider these options at Council level. In these discussions, Malta presented its position vis-a-vis these four options after consultations within the Wine Regulation Board. This board is the official consultation body set up in accordance with the Wine Act (2001), and is composed of representatives of grape growers, wine producers and Government.
After various discussions at EU level, the Council had originally concluded that the option that called for a profound reform would be the best way forward. This conclusion was in line with what Malta had argued in favour of, since it represented the best way forward to guaranteeing quality, control and sustainability.
The crux in the political discussions was reached yesterday when the Portuguese Presidency presented its latest compromise. The reform contains a number of positive elements such as increased National Envelopes which will be instrumental in helping the sector in accordance with the exigencies of the different European regions, and the late negotiation has substantially increased Malta’s financial allocation.
Notwithstanding this, the reform does not address fully the important objectives set out at the start of the reform. It stops short of implementing a European-wide consumer-oriented quality policy aimed at creating a long-term sustainable wine regime with effective rules that balance supply and demand.
Since its accession to the EU, Malta has pursued a quality policy culminating in this week’s launch of Malta’s first DOK wines. This policy will not be complemented by the implementation of the new wine common market organisation which does not improve consumers’ ability to distinguish between different oenological practices.
The main reasons for which Malta was compelled to vote against the proposed legislation were:
• The EU’s concession allowing the use of sugar enrichment in the production of wines, and related to this,
• No adequate and permanent compensation mechanism for producers who use must and not sugar to produce their wines.
The ministry will actively participate in the drawing up of the implementing rules of the Regulation and continue to consult stakeholders where necessary.