Mobility within Europe for young wine growers

16.3.2009

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1894/09
by Anne Laperrouze (ALDE)
to the Commission

The recent reform of the common organisation of the market in wine (Regulation (EC) No 479/2008) diagnosed a lack of competitiveness in the wine sector in Europe and suggested a number of measures to correct this.

The European wine sector does not take advantage of openings for international travel while training in order to increase its competitiveness, encourage innovation and develop the exchange of good practices. However, a person needs a very wide range of skills to be an independent wine grower, and both education and training play a fundamental role in helping young wine growers adjust to constant new developments in their profession.

The paradox, therefore, lies in the fact that, to become more competitive, young wine growers need to be aware of and to move around Europe, but their take-up rate for the latter is very low at present (only 1.94 % of students on the 2005/2006 Erasmus programme were from the ‘agricultural science’ sector). Mobility of this kind does not seem to be encouraged and the new CMO in wine does not deal with this aspect of professional development.

Are there any mechanisms at Community level now that would enable young independent wine growers to benefit from the advantages gained by mobility within Europe during their training?

If not, does the Commission intend, or has it already started, initiating discussions on this matter?

OJ C 189, 13/07/2010