French, Italian and Spanish wine groups urge the E.U. to preserve full funding for the sector

French, Italian and Spanish wine industry groups have called on their governments and the European Commission to make support for the sector a priority as producers face climate pressure, weaker global demand and rising costs.

The appeal came after the annual “contact group” meeting of representative wine associations from the three countries, held on June 30 and July 1 in Irouléguy, in southwestern France. In a joint position, the organizations said the wine sector is under strain from several fronts at once: the impact of climate change on harvests and competitiveness, slower wine consumption worldwide, instability in export markets and geopolitics, higher production costs, the need to strengthen single-market rules and the need to cut administrative burdens that weigh on companies.

The groups said their position has not changed in recent months. They argued that the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy must remain a central tool to help the sector adapt and that wine producers need sufficient and dedicated funding. They warned against any reduction in the CAP budget and rejected the idea that aid for the wine sector should be partly co-financed by member states instead of being fully funded by the EU, as it has been until now.

According to the associations, shifting part of the public financing burden to national governments would risk creating unequal levels of support among countries, fragmenting the internal market and weakening the European wine sector as a whole. They said existing mechanisms, recently reinforced and adjusted through the EU’s so-called wine package, should be applied and incorporated into the next CAP before other solutions are considered.

The organizations also said the current framework should continue to be adapted to the specific needs of wine producers. That includes maintaining a dedicated budget, defined measures, eligible beneficiaries, European co-financing rates and a common EU framework. They also urged Brussels to continue simplification efforts aimed at making trade within the single market easier.

The statement gave explicit backing to the work of Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen on the wine package, both for its process and its outcome. The groups said the package had provided concrete answers to operators’ expectations, including on dealcoholization and digital labeling, and they called for those measures to be implemented without delay.

They also said it would be unacceptable for two years of work not to be reflected in the future CAP. In that context, they asked the EU to establish a transitional period so that sectoral intervention measures for wine can continue ahead of the next multiannual financial framework for 2028-2034.

Beyond farm policy and trade rules, the statement addressed public health. The organizations said they recognize that concern for public health is increasingly present in society and stressed that they support clear and effective action against excessive alcohol consumption. At the same time, they described wine as a product tied to pleasure and culture that can be compatible with a healthy lifestyle when consumed in moderation.

They also argued that vineyards play a central role in many rural areas by supporting both economic activity and environmental stewardship. For that reason, they said public authorities in France, Italy and Spain should continue not only efforts against alcohol abuse but also firm support for responsible wine consumption.

The joint message reflects concerns shared by Europe’s three largest wine-producing countries at a time when many growers are dealing with volatile harvests, pressure on margins and uncertainty over future demand. Climate-related events have become more frequent across southern Europe in recent years, affecting yields and grape quality in some regions. At the same time, producers have been navigating softer consumption trends in several mature markets while trying to defend exports in an unstable international environment.

The debate over future CAP funding is especially sensitive for wine because support programs have long been used to finance restructuring in vineyards, investment, promotion and crisis management tools. Industry groups fear that if future support depends more heavily on national budgets, wealthier member states could be better placed to sustain their producers than others, creating distortions inside the EU market.

The reference to simplification also points to a broader frustration among producers over regulatory complexity. Wine businesses across Europe have repeatedly argued that compliance costs and administrative procedures reduce competitiveness at a moment when many companies are already facing higher energy, labor and input bills.

Among those attending from France were FNSEA’s wine commission, La Coopération Agricole-Vignerons Coopérateurs de France, Vignerons Indépendants de France, CNAOC, VINIGP, CNIV and UMVIN. Italy was represented by Alleanza delle Cooperative Agroalimentari Italiane, Assoenologi, CIA-Agricoltori Italiani, Coldiretti, Confagricoltura, Copagri, Federdoc, Federvini, FIVI and Unione Italiana Vini. From Spain attended Asociación Empresarial Vinos de España, Conferencia Española de Consejos Reguladores Vitivinícolas, Federación Española del Vino and Organización Interprofesional del Vino de España.

Their joint declaration framed support for wine not only as an agricultural issue but as one tied to economic activity, cultural heritage, landscapes and rural territories. By presenting a common front before upcoming EU budget and policy discussions, the three national sectors are seeking to increase pressure on both their capitals and Brussels to preserve current support structures for one of Europe’s most emblematic farm industries.