THE EU PARLIAMENT APPROVES THE REQUESTS OF THE COUNTRIES OPPPOSED TO ABOLISHING VINEYARD PLANTING RIGHTS IN 2015. SAVERIO ROMANO, MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE SAYS: “THE PROBLEM IS NOT OVER YET, BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR VITICULTURE”.

The letter addressed to the Ministers of Agriculture of nine European countries, including Italy, asking them to reconsider their intention to abolish the rights to vineyard planting starting in 2015, was successful in the European Parliament.

“Congratulations to the representatives of the European Parliament Agricultural Commission, especially to the Italian members, who sent a letter to the European Commission asking them to reconsider their intention to abolish vineyard planting rights”. The Italian Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Saverio Romano, praised the vote of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Parliament that, in approving the report on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2020, has adopted an amendment to maintain the system of planting rights of new vineyards. "It is”, added Romano “an important vote which the EU should take into consideration. This is a crucial issue for us and for other countries and it is strategic for the protection and enhancement of one of the noblest products of our agriculture. Yesterday's vote certainly does not mean the problem is totally solved,” said the Minister, “but it does show that the combined effort of the Italian representatives is effective in convincing the European Parliament and the EU Government Council to better defend, at the Community level, the interests of EU farmers”.