Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
4.06
The European Union has developed the E-Bacchus database
17
which consists
of the register of designations of origin and GIs protected in the EU in
accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007.
18
It lists non-EU
countries' GIs and names of origin protected in the EU in accordance with
bilateral agreements on trade in wine concluded between the EU and the
non-EU countries concerned and lists the traditional terms protected in the EU
in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007.
B. THE WINE REGULATION
1.
Introduction
4.07
The Wine Regulation was enacted out of the concern for the steady decline in
wine consumption in the Community and the slow increase in wine exports
compared with the growth in imports.
19
It was perceived that the existing
legislation had become ineffective in steering the wine sector towards a
competitive and sustainable development as the market mechanism measures
had encouraged structural surpluses without requiring structural improvements
and had unduly constrained the activities of competitive producers.
20
In the
light of previous experience it was considered appropriate to make a fundamen-
tal change to the Community wine regime with a view to achieving the
following objectives:
+
increasing the competitiveness of the Community's wine producers;
+
strengthening the reputation of Community quality wine as the best in
the world;
+
recovering old markets and winning new ones in the Community and
worldwide;
+
creating a wine regime that operates through clear, simple and effective
rules that balance supply and demand;
+
creating a wine regime that preserves the best traditions of Community
wine production,
+
reinforcing the social fabric of many rural areas, and ensuring that all
production respects the environment.
21
17
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/markets/wine/e-bacchus/index.cfm?event=pwelcome &language=EN.
18
Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of
agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation
),
OJ
L 299, 16.11.2007, pp. 1-149.
19
The Wine Regulation, Recital (2).
20
Ibid, Recital (2).
21
Ibid, Recital (5).
