CEEV holds General Assembly in Lisbon: A key moment for reflection on productive, societal and trade challenges while celebrating ACIBEV’s 50th anniversary

Lisbon, 1^st July 2025 – The Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins (CEEV) held its General Assembly in Lisbon, Portugal, warmly hosted by ACIBEV – Associação de Vinhos e Espirituosas de Portugal. This special gathering brought together members from across Europe to reflect on the key challenges and opportunities facing the European wine sector and to celebrate a significant milestone for ACIBEV—its 50^th anniversary.

Speaking at the Gala dinner in presence of Portuguese Minister of Agriculture José Manuel Fernandes, CEEV President Marzia Varvaglione expressed her deep appreciation to ACIBEV: “I extend a warm thank you to ACIBEV for hosting the CEEV General Assembly meeting. Your warm hospitality and impeccable organization have made us all feel truly welcome. On behalf of CEEV, I also want to congratulate you for reaching this important milestone. Fifty years is a clear sign of the determination of Portuguese wine companies to be active, engaged, and forward-looking. It is also a testament to the high-quality work that ACIBEV has been consistently delivering over the years.”

This year’s General Assembly was particularly important, offering members a dedicated forum to discuss the critical issues currently shaping the future of the European wine sector. Topics included the evolution of the EU’s wine package, sustainability certifications, and key trade developments such as relations with the United States and the EU-MERCOSUR trade agreement.

In addition to internal discussions, the Assembly served as a platform for strategic dialogue about wine’s evolving role as a responsible and future-facing economic sector—highlighting its contributions to health-conscious lifestyles, sustainable development, and cultural heritage.

To support this reflection, the General Assembly welcomed a distinguished panel of guest speakers:

• MEP Vytenis Andriukaitis, Member of the European Parliament and former EU Commissioner for Health & Food Safety, who provided insight into the current legislative outlook of the European Parliament;
• H.E. Ambassador Olivier Maes, co-chair of the Fourth High-level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases and Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the United Nations, who outlined the international debate and positioning at UN level;
• Sandro Sartor, President of Wine in Moderation, who presented the key conclusions from the 2^nd International Scientific Congress on Lifestyle, Diet, Wine & Health.

Reflecting on the discussions, Ignacio Sánchez Recarte, Secretary General of CEEV, stated: “This General Assembly meeting has underscored the unique moment the European wine sector is facing. We are navigating complex regulatory, trade, and societal challenges, but we are also building momentum around our commitment to responsible production and consumption, sustainability, and wine’s cultural role. I thank all our members and speakers for their valuable insights, which will guide our collective strategy in the coming months.”

President of ACIBEV, Jorge Monteiro, said “It was a great honor for ACIBEV to host the General Assembly of our European federation in Lisbon, especially in a year when we celebrate our 50^th anniversary. The challenges of the sector are high, and working together, at European level, is fundamental”.

CEEV addresses its sincere thanks to ACIBEV for its generous hospitality and congratulates the association once again on 50 years of leadership and excellence in the Portuguese wine sector.

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