Sector by sector, aid plans follow one another to stem the consequences of the pandemic. This Wednesday, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced an additional envelope of 80 million euros to support wine growers, hard hit by the crisis.
This envelope is in addition to the aid plan of 170 million euros released in May by the previous government. "I asked that this aid can be distributed as quickly as possible because the cash requirements (...) are strong", added the Prime Minister.
Encourage “environmental transition”
Without going into detail, Jean Castex specified that this aid would be intended to improve the storage of surpluses and increase the distillation of unsold products.
The Prime Minister had previously visited another area of the Cher, on an organic farm in Menetou-Salon. "Quality, quality, quality, that's what is the spearhead of our viticulture, we must encourage quality", pleaded Mr. Castex.
"We must encourage sector policies to prepare for this environmental transition", he also underlined, promising "support for the State".
A shortfall of 1.5 billion euros
In total, wine growers estimate that the health crisis has created a shortfall of at least 1.5 billion euros due to the shutdown of bars, restaurants, festive gatherings and tourism.
Added to the new coronavirus crisis is the effect of the American sanctions pronounced at the end of 2019 on wines of less than 14 degrees (excluding sparkling wines), in retaliation for a trade dispute between Airbus and Boeing.
Economy
Coronavirus in Gironde: More than 500,000 hectoliters of wine soon to be transformed into biofuel
Planet
Coronavirus: Rhone Valley winegrowers fear climate change more than Covid-19
- Wine
- Viticulture
- Jean Castex
- Economic crisis