"We call on the European Commission to keep wine out of trade disputes. We aim to ensure the long-term competitiveness of the wine sector through targeted support programmes and market development strategies, which also benefit from European funding," stated Jesús Ángel Garrido Martínez, Director General for Funds and Relations with the European Union, Government of La Rioja. He made these remarks during a debate on The local dimension of the new U.S. tariff policy on European agri-food products, which he requested during the CoR plenary session in Brussels.
María del Mar Vaquero, Vice-President and Justice, Economy and Presidency Minister, Government of Aragón, said: "We ask for the CoR to draft a resolution addressed to the European Parliament and European Commission calling for measures to protect the agri-food industry."
Pablo Hurtado Pardo, Director-General for External Action of the Regional Government of Extremadura, said: "Tariffs are a big blow to our economy, and the EU needs to respond strongly. We must boost strategic sectors and reduce our dependence on third countries."
Enric Millo Rocher, Secretary General for External Action, European Union and Cooperation, Government of Andalusia, said: "Andalusia has a 1,000-year history of wine production. We urge the Commission to exclude wine from the trade war with the US. It is crucial to adopt adequate compensatory measures to protect our wine industry, including identifying alternative markets to offset the loss of access to the US market."
Adrián Ariel Zitelli Ferrari, Director General for European Union of the Department of the Presidency, Government Spokesperson, Foreign Action, and Emergencies, Government of Murcia, stated: "We must ensure that the EU’s wine industry remains competitive in the face of US tariffs."
Cristina Menéndez Álvarez, Director General for Cooperation with the State and the European Union, Autonomous Community of Madrid, said: "The EU must strengthen its agricultural policy towards the rest of the world. Agriculture is one of the main pillars of the EU’s competitiveness."