Today, the European Commission is proposing a range of measures to ensure Europe’s wine sector remains competitive, resilient, and a vital economic force in the decades to come.

The sector is facing several challenges like shifting consumer trends, climate change and market uncertainties.

The Commission’s proposal introduces targeted measures to help the sector manage production potential, adapt to evolving consumer preferences, and unlock new market opportunities. These measures will also help maintain the vitality of many rural areas which depend on jobs in the wine industry and preserve the EU wine sector’s social relevance.

Key changes to the wine policy framework

• Surplus prevention: Member States will be empowered to take action, such as grubbing-up (removing unwanted or excess vines) and green harvesting (removing unripe grapes before harvest), to prevent surplus production, help stabilise the market and protect producers from financial strain.
• Planting flexibility: Producers will be allowed additional flexibility on the replanting authorisations scheme. This will help them taking their investment decision in the current changing context. Member States will also be allowed to better calibrate the planting authorisations to their national and regional needs.
• Climate support: The sector will receive stronger support to become more resilient to climate change. Member States can increase the maximum Union financial assistance up to 80% of the eligible investment costs for investments aimed at climate change mitigation and adaptation.

• Clear marketing rules: Marketing of innovative products will be easier, with clearer rules and common product denominations for lower alcohol wine products across the single market.
• Harmonised labelling: Operators will benefit from a more harmonised approach to wine labelling, reducing costs and simplifying trade across EU borders while providing consumers with easy access to information.

• Boosted wine tourism: Producer groups managing wine protected under geographical indications will receive assistance to develop wine-related tourism, helping to boost economic development in rural areas.
• Extended promotion: The duration of EU-funded promotional campaigns for market consolidation in third countries will be extended from 3 to 5 years to ensure better promotion of European wines.

Background

The EU wine sector is a cornerstone of Europe’s cultural and economic fabric. Representing 60% of global wine production and 60% of the world’s exported wine value, the sector plays a vital role in rural economies and is closely linked to European traditions, gastronomy, and tourism. While the EU wine policy has been highly successful in protecting the qualities and promoting EU wines, ongoing demographic shifts, changing consumption patterns, climate challenges and market uncertainties are straining the sector.

To address these challenges, the High-Level Group on Wine Policy (HLG) was established to discuss the sector’s needs and propose solutions together with the sector and Member States. At the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development meeting on 11 February 2025, Commissioner Christophe Hansen announced the upcoming proposal on wine, designed to translate the HLG’s recommendations into concrete legislative action. Today’s proposal marks the fulfilment of that commitment.

Once adopted, the new framework will allow for swift action, ensuring more opportunities for producers, while securing the future of a competitive wine sector across the Union.

Last night, at the European Mobility Week Award ceremony, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, presented Bologna with the European Mobility Week Award and Pěšky městem, a Czech association, with the Mobility Action Award.

Both awards aim to promote awareness of sustainable urban mobility and recognise outstanding initiatives implemented during the European Mobility Week in 2024.

The jury praised Bologna for making sustainable mobility more accessible through an impressive series of Car-Free Days during Mobility Week, information stands, and educational activities. Many local, private and citizen-led organisations were involved in events on sustainable urban mobility plans and the transformation of public space, which helped foster a sense of community ownership.

Pěšky městem impressed with a nationwide campaign promoting active mobility, involving 501 schools across 338 Czech cities. The initiative encouraged families to walk to school, highlighting health and environmental benefits.

Slovenian town Solčava received a special mention for its commitment to sustainable transport, proving that even small communities can make a big impact.

During the European Mobility Week, which runs every year from 16 to 22 September, towns and cities can choose to host a car-free day, and activities to promote new infrastructure and raise awareness of sustainable mobility options. In 2024, over 2,700 towns and cities from 45 countries signed up. More than 900 businesses, educational institutions, civil society organisations, citizen initiatives and municipalities registered Mobility Actions.

The Commission will allocate €1.3 billion for the deployment of critical technologies that are strategically important for the future of Europe and the continent’s tech sovereignty through the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) work programme for 2025 to 2027 adopted today.

The work programme focuses on the deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its uptake by businesses and public administration, cloud and data, cyber resilience and digital skills.

More specifically, key priorities under the DIGITAL work programme include:

• Improving the availability and accessibility of generative AI applications, including in the health and care sectors. Available funding will go towards testing immersive environments, known as ‘virtual worlds’, implementing the AI Act and deploying energy efficient common data spaces. These measures are key to the implementation of the AI Factories initiative to develop generative AI models for businesses and the public sector.
• Supporting  the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs). This is a network of hubs that provides companies and the public sector with access to technical expertise and testing of technologies, as well as with advice, training and skills to adopt the latest technologies. It will promote the widespread take-up of AI in private and public organisations across Europe.
• Building-up the award-winning Destination Earth initiative that is working to build a digital model of Earth to support climate adaptation and disaster risk management. Funding will build a more powerful model that more researchers can access.
• Boosting cyber resilience. Cybersecurity solutions such as the EU Cybersecurity Reserve will improve the resilience and security of critical infrastructures including hospitals and submarine cables.
• Developing EU education and training institutions’ capacity in digital skills so they may nurture and attract talent while boosting advanced skills in the European workforce.
• Facilitating the new EU Digital Identity Wallet architecture and the European Trust Infrastructure, as well as promoting its adoption in Member States.
• Stimulating the transformation of the public sector by developing efficient, high-quality, interoperable digital public services.

Innovation will also be accelerated by the new Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) which awards the STEP Seal quality label to promising projects to improve their opportunity to access public and private funding.

Next Steps

The upcoming DIGITAL calls are expected to be released in April 2025, with additional calls published through the rest of the year. The EU Funding & Tenders Portal can be consulted for information on open calls.

Calls are open to businesses, public administrations, and other entities from EU Member States, EFTA/EEA countries, and countries associated to DIGITAL.

Background

DIGITAL is the first funding programme of the EU entirely focused on bringing digital technology to businesses and citizens. With a budget of €8.1 billion under the present Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027, it has been shaping the digital transformation of Europe’s society and economy.

Focussing specifically on deployment, DIGITAL complements investments under other EU programmes, such as Horizon Europe, EU4Health, InvestEU, the Connecting Europe Facility as well as investments under the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

Digital Europe Programme – Work programme 2025-2027

Information on funding under the Digital Europe Programme