The French Minister of Agriculture, Marc Fesneau, announced on Monday a wine distillation campaign, endowed with 160 million euros, to support winegrowers in the grip of a serious crisis, particularly in Bordeaux.
"
The wine sector is currently going through a short-term crisis in the context of inflation linked to the war in Ukraine, which is exacerbating structural difficulties in certain wine-growing areas and wine colors
", wrote the minister in a press release.
In Bordeaux, the largest AOC vineyard in France, with its 110,000 cultivated hectares, 85% of which are red, the less prestigious appellations are particularly suffering from the collapse in prices and overproduction estimated at one million hectolitres.
"160 million euros in 2023"
To support the sector "
major for the French economy
", "
a distillation campaign
" will be initiated "
as of this summer
" thanks to the release "
within the limit of the amounts authorized by European provisions
" of "
40 million euros in credits supplemented by 40 million from the European funding envelope (EAGF)
,” says Marc Fesneau.
A second distillation campaign could be organized "
from October (...) to reach a maximum of 160 million euros in 2023
", details the minister.
The last distillation campaign was set up in the summer of 2020 to help French winegrowers dispose of the surpluses accumulated at the start of the coronavirus pandemic due to the almost simultaneous closure of bars and restaurants around the world.
They had been transformed into alcohol to make bioethanol, perfumes or hydroalcoholic gel.
Read alsoBordeaux: the Cité du Vin unveils its new permanent exhibition
In his press release, the minister also recalls that the government has extended and extended the state-guaranteed loan scheme (PGE) until the end of 2023. of "
a total of 40 million euros
" will also open "
in the coming days
".
Tracks are also “
under study around the mobilization of the tools of the EAFRD (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development) on agricultural diversification, generation renewal, and sanitary uprooting within the framework of an interprofessional program control of flavescence dorée
" to help winegrowers, "
from 2023
", particularly in Bordeaux.
The winegrowers demanded the uprooting of at least 15,000 hectares of vines, with a premium of 10,000 euros/hectare.
SEE
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