Three decrees were signed by the Minister of Agriculture, Stefano Patuanelli, aimed at supporting the olive and wine sector, on which an agreement was reached in the last session of the State-Regions Conference.
The aid discipline for the areas affected by the Xylella fastidiosa bacterium, whose olive production is still in great pain, is amended. The decree scheme, taking into account that the current level of production in the affected areas can only be guaranteed with support actions that take into account the multi-year characteristics of the crop, establishes a four-year deadline for replanting the olive trees, as well as specific rules to continue to benefit from coupled aid while the olive-growing area is unproductive.
There are two decrees concerning the wine sector and are aimed at supporting the entire sector, strongly affected by the consequences deriving from the blockade of the Ho.re.ca. and the export crisis due to the epidemiological emergency from Covid-19.?
The first decree concerns the promotion in third countries of Italian wine products, for which the execution schedule of the programs for the year 2020/2021 is extended by two months, to encourage the greatest possible expenditure of the support provided for by the Promotion in the Countries measure. third parties of the CMO Wine and encourage the dynamics of rebalancing of the markets linked to this sector, also considering the evolution of the epidemiological situation, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in the markets of third countries and on the national territory, as well as the consequences that containment measures on its diffusion have had and continue to have on the wine sector and on commercial exchanges between Europe and third countries.
The second decree, on the other hand, in force since 1 January 2021, implements some Community provisions recently adopted to deal with the persistence of the crisis resulting from the pandemic and presents a series of extensions of obligations for wine producers that are about to expire.
In particular, a certain flexibility is allowed in the implementation and management of the measures included in the National Support Program for the wine sector (PNS), the payments of some contributions are waived and finally, as regards plant authorizations, it is extended to 31 December 2021. the validity of the authorizations expiring in 2020 with the possibility, for producers who no longer intend to use the authorization or to take advantage of the extension, not to incur penalties.