Examination of Witnesses (Questions 800
- 805)
MONDAY 21 MAY 2007
MR JEAN-LOUIS ALAUX, MR JEAN-MARIE FABRE AND MR JEAN-LUC
FABRY
Q800 Chairman:
Do the other members of the French Association agree?
Mr Alaux: They wholeheartedly agree with, me
otherwise I would have been far more moderate in what I have expressed
to you today with regard to Languedoc/Roussillon.
Q801 Chairman:
What percentage of total wine production in France is independent
and what percentage co-operative?
Mr Alaux: There are 36,000 wine producers in
France, 54% are independent and they represent 70% of the value
and 80% of employment.
Q802 Viscount Brookeborough:
And they cannot change the regulations?
Mr Alaux: No. There is one single reason: in
the past all wine makers in France were independent, 100 years
ago certain of them grouped together to make co-operatives and
at this point in time in France the agricultural unions started
to develop and all the wine makers who remained independent did
not feel the need to join this union movement. The situation today,
therefore, is the French state only recognises bodies that are
represented by unions and which were formed well in the past.
Q803 Lord Plumb:
What is the relationship between your organisation and FNSEA?
Mr Alaux: In a nutshell, there are certain agreements
when it comes to taking control of the Chamber of Agriculture
in each département, but when it comes down to applying
a viticultural policy they are never in agreement. The FNSEA is
far too interested in applying for aid relative to agriculture,
so through this point of view it also maintains its membership.
Here this is not a union, this is a federation and every member
is free to contribute or not. We are heavily in favour of financial
autonomy for each individual company.
Q804 Viscount Brookeborough:
Through your international contacts with other countries within
Europe, are you aware whether or not similar bodies such as yours
agree with your point of view in Italy, in Spain?
Mr Alaux: There is a European Federation of
Independent Wine Makers. The Swiss, Italians, Spanish and Portuguese
have a very independent spirit and each of these countries, with
the possible exception of Italy, fiercely defend the financial
independence of each individual company; financial autonomy for
each individual company.
Q805 Chairman:
Thank you very much indeed, that has been a very, very helpful
and useful hour.
Mr Alaux: Thank you for taking an interest in
the wine-making industry in Languedoc/Roussillon. This house is
open to you and, if you need anything at all, you can count on
us and our friendship.
Chairman: Thank you very much. We are very
much indebted to you and your colleagues, thank you very much.
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