Protection of GI ‘Prosecco’ in EU-Australia trade agreement
19.7.2023
Priority question for written answer P-002270/2023
to the Commission
Rule 138
Paola Ghidoni (ID), Danilo Oscar Lancini (ID)
Italian wine exports have a value of EUR 8 billion, with Prosecco alone generating EUR 1.15 billion.
And Italian wines could bring in even more profit if they were not hindered by the spread of counterfeit products, which, riding on Italian-sounding names, cause losses of at least EUR 1 billion to the real ‘Made in Italy’ market.
To curb the sale of fake Italian wine, geographical indications must be guaranteed protection under the trade agreements between the EU and non-EU countries. However, some refuse to recognise a number of Italy and Europe’s best products, like Australia, which, in the agreement being negotiated with the EU, currently appears to refuse to recognise Prosecco as a product protected by a geographical indication (GI).
Given that the GI ‘Prosecco’ has been included in the trade agreement recently concluded between the EU and New Zealand, and that the negotiation could be influenced by the fact that Australian Minister of Trade and Tourism, Don Farrell, has interests in the wine sector, can the Commission answer the following questions:
- 1.What will it do to ensure that the GI ‘Prosecco’ will be fully protected under the future EU-Australia trade agreement?
- 2.Can it confirm that ‘fake’ Australian Prosecco can no longer be sold in New Zealand with the entry into force of the EU-New Zealand trade agreement protecting the GI ‘Prosecco’?
Submitted:19.7.2023