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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbia successfully harmonises wine production regulations with those of EU

Novi Sad, 14 May 2012

Minister of Agriculture, Trade, Forestry and Water Management Dusan Petrovic presented today at the Novi Sad International Agriculture Fair 25 cars to institutions of Serbia as part of the project "Capacity building and technical assistance in drafting the new zoning of viticulture areas and the system of denomination of origin of wine."

John Clarke and Dusan Petrovic

Author: Tanjug

This project, funded by the EU with €1.2 million, will allow for an easier and better functioning of the system of the denomination of origin of wines based on a new zoning of the vineyard areas, in line with EU standards.

Petrovic said that Serbia was recently granted candidate status for EU membership which has opened the space for a stronger approach towards the EU, adding that this approach should be stronger precisely in the field of agriculture.

Noting that in Serbia there are already 65 wine producers who are certified manufactures with denomination of origin, Petrovic said that our country should complement the wine offer of Europe.

According to him, the Ministry of Agriculture will continue to assist wine producers in Serbia so that they could make good earnings from this business.

At the official delivery of keys to the donated cars worth €250,000, Director for International Affairs at the Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development at the European Commission John Clarke said that, thanks to this project, wine growers in Serbia will be able to produce more.

Clarke said that Serbia will successfully harmonise its regulations on wine production with those of the EU because that is one of the conditions for the EU accession.

Head of the EU Delegation in Serbia Vincent Degert said that the EU attaches great importance to agriculture in Serbia.

Quality is what is important and all projects are aimed to bring an increase in quality, Degert said, adding that it is certain that Serbia will achieve the quality and will become competitive on the EU market both in wine production and in all other areas.

Italian Ambassador to Serbia Armando Varricchio said that he is happy that Italy has an extensive cooperation with Serbia and that both parties will make effort to improve this cooperation.

Varricchio said that agriculture in Serbia is not only important because of the gross domestic product (GDP), but also because of a sustainable development of the region.

Major projects of this programme financed by EU are making detailed vine zoning maps as well as maps of vineyards and production areas of Serbia, technical assistance in developing a new system of geographical origin of wines modelled after the recently-established system for wines in the EU.

The project is supported by the Ministry of Agriculture in respect of law harmonisation and making by-laws related to this area, organisation of trainings, wine labelling and assistance for purchasing equipment.