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IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 OIV 9 OIV 2024 9 Orals - Economy and law 9 “Q & A” of the european commission for labeling and desalcoholization for wines: european wine “soft-law”?

“Q & A” of the european commission for labeling and desalcoholization for wines: european wine “soft-law”?

Abstract

Recently, the European Commission seems to have inaugurated a new mechanism for regulating the wine sector. Through two communications, articulated in the form of “Questions & Answers”, concerning the new rules for labeling (24.11.2023) and dealcoholization of wine (15.01.2024), the Commission is not simply “explaining” the new rules but, in an approach close to the theory of “Circulaire Normative” established in comparative law, chooses among different interpretations and even adds Praeter Legem constraints. The paper examines the content of these texts, a priori of low normativity, and considers that they reveal a new regulatory model which may seem prima facie adapted to the specificities of the European wine sector but which, in reality, challenges cardinal principles of European law, such as legal certainty, institutional balance, transparency, and even subsidiarity. Hence the need to limit this practice. Finally, the paper questions the articulation of such a soft-law practice with the resolutions of the OIV.

Les « questions & réponses » de la commission européenne en matière d’étiquetage et de désalcoolisation des vins : du « soft-law » vitivinicole européen ?

Récemment, la Commission Européenne semble avoir inauguré un mécanisme inédit de régulation du secteur vitivinicole. Par deux communications, articulées sous forme de « Questions & Réponses », concernant les nouvelles règles d’étiquetage (24.11.2023) et de désalcoolisation du vin (15.01.2024), la Commission ne se contente pas « d’expliquer » les nouvelles règles mais, dans une démarche qui rappelle la théorie de la « Circulaire Normative » connue en droit comparé, choisit parmi différentes interprétations et même ajoute des contraintes Praeter Legem. Le papier examine le contenu de ces textes, a priori de faible normativité, et considère que nous sommes devant un nouveau modèle de régulation qui semble Prima Facie adapté aux spécificités du secteur vitivinicole européen mais qui, en réalité, remet en question des principes cardinaux du droit européen, tels que la sécurité juridique, l’équilibre institutionnel, la transparence et même la subsidiarité. D’où le besoin de circonscrire cette pratique. Enfin, le papier s’interroge sur l’articulation d’une telle pratique de soft-law avec les résolutions de l’OIV.

Le “domande & risposte” della commissione europea su etichettatura e dealcolazione dei vini: della “soft-law” vitivinicolo europeo?
Recentemente, la Commissione Europea sembra aver inaugurato un nuovo meccanismo di regolamentazione del settore vitivinicolo. Attraverso due comunicazioni, articolate sotto forma di “Domande & Risposte”, riguardanti le nuove regole di etichettatura (24.11.2023) e dealcolazione del vino (15.01.2024), la Commissione non si accontenta di “spiegare” le nuove norme ma, in un approccio che ricorda la teoria della “Circolare Normativa” nota in diritto comparato, sceglie tra diverse interpretazioni e addirittura aggiunge vincoli Praeter Legem. Il contributo esamina il contenuto di questi testi, a priori poco normativi, e ritiene che siamo di fronte a un nuovo modello normativo che sembra Prima Facie adattato alle specificità del settore vitivinicolo europeo ma che, in realtà, chiama in causa i principi cardine del diritto europeo, quali la certezza del diritto, l’equilibrio istituzionale, la trasparenza e perfino la sussidiarietà. Da qui la necessità di limitare questa pratica. Infine, il documento mette in discussione l’articolazione di tale pratica di soft-law con le risoluzioni dell’OIV.
Publication date: November 18, 2024

Issue: OIV 2024

Type: Article

Authors

Théodore Georgopoulos¹

¹ Université de Reims, 32 Rue de Betheny, Reims, France

Contact the author*

Tags

IVES Conference Series | OIV | OIV 2024

Citation

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