ATHENS – A European Parliament’s Special Committee on Beating Cancer report stating there is no safe level of alcohol consumption concering the disease has Greek wine makers worried it could cut into EU subsidies.
The body is due to vote Dec. 6 on the recommedation although it has no authority over the European Commission, the wine industry still said anxious it could influence funding though.
The European Union intends to take measures to limit alcohol without distinguishing between high-alcohol beverages and wine, essentially putting wine in the same category as high-powered whiskies, bourbon, rum and Scotch.
“Concern is growing in the runup to the adoption of a European report on the fight against cancer, which considers any alcohol consumption to be harmful and could set a new policy direction in Europe,” said KEOSOE, the National Agricultural Cooperative of Wine Products.
The text report, if voted by the committee, as is likely, would have to be approved at the beginning of 2022 by the Plenary in order to be taken into account as a policy direction by the European Commission, said Kathimerini.