In the wake on an agreement by EU Agriculture Ministers in December, the EU has formally adopted a wide-ranging reform of the Common Market Organisation for wine.
The changes will bring better balance to the wine market, phase out market intervention measures and allow funds to be used for more positive, proactive measures – boosting the competitiveness of European wines.
The reform will ensure environmental protection in wine-growing regions, safeguard traditional and well-established quality policies and simplify labelling rules, for the benefit of producers and consumers alike.
The very restrictive planting rights system will also be abolished at EU level from 1 January 2016 onwards.
The European Commission will now begin the process of adopting the detailed implementing regulations to allow the reform to enter into force on 1 August 2008.
Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, said the EC can now get on with the final preparations for the entry into force of the new system in August.
"Instead of wasting money getting rid of unwanted surpluses, the reform will allow us to concentrate on taking on our competitors and winning back market share.
I hope the Member States will make good use of the new tools available."