EU vineyards face a serious foe with Flavescence dorée (FD), a grapevine disease threatening wine production and growers' livelihoods. Commissioner Mr Hansen's answer reveals a strategic push to back scientific research and farmer-level innovations targeting FD and its primary vector, the American grapevine leafhopper (Scaphoideus titanus). This plan impacts researchers, winegrowers, policymakers, and agricultural innovators who will all be closely watching funding allocations and research directions.
The response answers a parliamentary question posed by Marko Vešligaj (S&D), who sought clarity on EU funding sources and past financial commitments to studying FD and its vector.
Commissioner Hansen's statement includes concrete funding avenues. Horizon Europe, especially Cluster 6, offers dedicated projects under the 2026-2027 work programme. Member States can also mobilise CAP Strategic Plans to fund practice-driven projects via EIP-AGRI Operational Groups. Notably, around €200 million was allocated recently for plant health research under Horizon Europe, and while no current projects tackle FD exclusively, prior initiatives like VITISENS and TROPICSAFE dealt with FD diagnostics and management.
Policy orientation reveals an approach blending increased EU support for collaborative research with reinforcement of localized agricultural innovation through CAP funds. This represents a balancing act between boosting EU-level coordination and maintaining national and sector-level autonomy, with an emphasis on practical solutions for the vineyard sector rather than solely on basic research.
Various stakeholders face mixed impacts: the research community gains clearer funding paths and scope, viticulturalists potentially benefit from new management tools, while EU member states carry responsibilities coordinating and funding implementation. EU regulatory and agricultural advisory bodies will also need to integrate findings into standards and policy guidance.
This official answer is a signal that the Commission positions itself as a facilitator of both cutting-edge scientific research and grounded innovation in agriculture. The response timeline and the specificity of the programmes referenced suggest ongoing engagement and monitoring, providing a framework for future follow-ups and evaluation of effectiveness in combating FD across Europe.