Parliamentary question - O-000047/2015Parliamentary question
O-000047/2015

Protecting Europe's heritage

6.5.2015

Question for oral answer O-000047/2015
to the Commission
Rule 128
Marie-Christine Arnautu, Aymeric Chauprade, Barbara Kappel, Bernard Monot, Bruno Gollnisch, Daniela Aiuto, Dario Tamburrano, Dominique Bilde, Dominique Martin, Edouard Ferrand, Florian Philippot, Franz Obermayr, Georg Mayer, Gerolf Annemans, Gianluca Buonanno, Gilles Lebreton, Hans Jansen, Harald Vilimsky, Jean-François Jalkh, Jean-Luc Schaffhauser, Jean-Marie Le Pen, Joëlle Mélin, Lorenzo Fontana, Louis Aliot, Mara Bizzotto, Marcel de Graaff, Marie-Christine Boutonnet, Marine Le Pen, Mario Borghezio, Matteo Salvini, Mireille D'Ornano, Mylène Troszczynski, Nicolas Bay, Olaf Stuger, Peter Lundgren, Philippe Loiseau, Sophie Montel, Steeve Briois, Sylvie Goddyn, Vicky Maeijer

In the Bordeaux region, 230 vineyards have been bought by Chinese investors, who are exporting 100% of their production outside France. This is causing prices of wine and of vineyards to soar. In particular, they have bought up cognac brands such as Roullet-Fransc or Breuil, which are now mainly using material from China.

These investments are partly responsible for the deterioration in the image of local products, as in the case of the Bordeaux appellation, which has been misused and degraded in China, where wines are sometimes watered down. The Court of Auditors has drawn attention to dubious and corrupt financial transactions, which are very common in Chinese public groups. These foreign investments are a threat to the quality and authenticity of products which form part of the heritage of Member States, and they also damage the local economy.

The Commission stresses the importance of the authenticity of the European heritage. How will it protect that heritage against foreign investments which distort it and threaten its long-term survival?

Will it permit and encourage Member States to regulate these investments so as to improve their impact on local economies and protect employees more effectively?