Alexander Jungbluth· ESN

Nuanced

Last year the EU subsidized the grubbing up of vines.

Omissions

• The Wine Package was approved in November 2025, very late in the year, meaning actual EU-funded grubbing-up would have been minimal in 2025
• The most significant grubbing-up initiative in 2025 was France's national program (€130 million), not a direct EU-wide subsidy program
• The EU measure was about authorizing Member States to use funds for this purpose rather than a direct EU-wide grubbing-up subsidy scheme
• The claim lacks context that grubbing-up is a surplus management measure to balance supply with falling demand
• The speaker's party (AfD/ESN) typically opposes EU agricultural subsidies, so this claim may be framed to criticize EU wine policy

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Commission Press Release IP/25/900Member States will be empowered to take action, such as grubbing-up (removing unwanted or excess vines) and green harvesting
• PrimaryEuropean Parliament - EPRS Briefing on the Wine PackageThe Commission's proposal for a 'wine package' seeks to address challenges faced by the EU wine sector
• SecondaryEU Perspectives - Europe uncorks new rules to support wine producersEU funds may also be used for vine removal, commonly known as 'grubbing up', to manage supply in alignment with market demand
• SecondaryReuters - France to help wine industry with $150 million in aid for vines uprootingThe French Agriculture Ministry said it would give the wine industry additional support of 130 million euros ($149.80 million) for vine-uprooting