2026-07-13
Wine groups from Italy, France and Spain have jointly urged the European Union to make support for the wine supply chain a priority as the bloc prepares changes to its farm policy and long-term budget.
The appeal was made after representatives of the three countries met in recent days in Irouléguy, France, as part of the annual Contact Group, where national industry organizations coordinate positions on the main issues facing the wine sector. The organizations said the industry is under pressure from climate change, weaker global consumption, unstable export markets, geopolitical tensions, rising production costs and administrative burdens that they say are hurting competitiveness.
Together, Italy, France and Spain account for more than half of global wine production. Industry groups from the three countries said the sector also has broad economic weight in Europe, citing estimates from the Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins, or CEEV, that place its contribution at more than €130 billion in gross domestic product across the region.
In their message to national governments and the European Commission, the groups said the Common Agricultural Policy must remain capable of supporting what they called necessary changes in the sector. They argued that wine should continue to receive sufficient and targeted resources and warned against cuts to the CAP budget as Brussels works on reforms and on the next multiannual financial framework for 2028 through 2034.
The organizations said it was essential that aid for wine remain fully financed by the European Union rather than shifted, even in part, to member states through co-financing. In their view, requiring each country to cover part of the public support could create unequal conditions among producers in different nations, fragment the single market and weaken the sector across Europe.
They also called on the E.U. to preserve and integrate into the next CAP the tools already developed under the so-called Wine Package. According to the groups, that means keeping a framework that includes a dedicated budget, existing measures, eligible beneficiaries, current European co-financing rates and a common E.U. structure tailored to wine’s specific needs.
The statement also pressed Brussels to continue work on simplifying rules that affect trade within the single market. The groups said reducing bureaucracy is necessary if producers are to compete more effectively at a time when many wineries are dealing with lower demand and higher costs.
The industry organizations praised Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen for his work on the Wine Package, both in method and results, and pointed to concrete responses for operators on issues including dealcoholization and digital labeling. They said those measures should now be implemented without further delay.
They also asked for a transition period that would allow current wine-sector interventions to continue before the next long-term E.U. budget takes effect. The groups said it would be unacceptable if two years of work were not reflected in the future CAP.
The signatories from Italy included Alleanza delle Cooperative Agroalimentari Italiane, Assoenologi, Cia-Agricoltori Italiani, Coldiretti, Confagricoltura, Copagri, Federdoc, Federvini, Fivi and Unione Italiana Vini. The French and Spanish sectors were represented through their own national organizations in the Contact Group meeting.
The joint position comes at a sensitive moment for Europe’s drinks industry because wine policy decisions often shape investment conditions across farming, processing, exports and labeling rules. Any reduction in E.U. support or added fragmentation between member states could have effects beyond wineries themselves, especially for beverage companies tied to grape growing, bottling, logistics and international sales.
The groups also addressed public health policy. They said they support clear and effective action against excessive alcohol consumption while also backing continued promotion of responsible wine consumption. In their statement, they described wine as a cultural and pleasure product that can fit within a healthy lifestyle when consumed in moderation.
They argued that vineyards remain central to many rural areas because they support local economies and landscapes. That point is likely to remain part of the debate in Brussels as policymakers weigh agricultural spending against other priorities and decide how much room wine will have in future E.U. programs.