Jose Manuel Fernandes, a Member of the European Parliament and Portuguese politician of the Social Democratic Party, got invited by the President of the Management of Europe XXI, Pedro Ferreirinha, to participate as a speaker at the event “A Cup with Europe” – Wine Tasting and Conversation about the European Union”, held in Peso da Régua this weekend.
MEP Jose Fernandes expressed his appreciation for the leaders of Europe XXI on his official Facebook account. He congratulated them for their excellent work and the exceptional quality of the event they had organized.
He added, “I had the opportunity to listen to the excellent speeches of the Mayor José Manuel Gonçalves and the President of the Wine Institute of Douro, Gilberto Igrejas. The Gold, its Wine, and its landscapes are the result of the hard work of its inhabitants. ”
MEP Jose Fernades extended thanks to them for promoting wealth creation while celebrating and preserving our roots and traditions. He also stated, “We have to defend our production and make sure that the legislation considers the specifics of each country and region.”
As per sources, Wine plays a crucial role in their economy and export market and also holds significant importance in the tourism sector due to its scenic landscapes. The Douro has been designated as the European Wine City this year.
Throughout the year, various events and activities have been organized to highlight the region’s culture, heritage, and Wine and promote wine tourism in Europe.
MEP Jose Manuel Fernandes added that The European Union dominates the global wine production scene, with an average annual output of 165 million hectolitres between 2016 and 2020.
In 2020, the EU produced 64% of the world’s Wine, but they also consumed a significant portion of it, accounting for 48% of the total consumption, and Wine made up a considerable 7.6% of the EU’s agri-food sector for exports.
