THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation), and in particular the third paragraph of Article 121 thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Point A.3 of Annex XVa to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 provides that Member States may request that the limits for increasing the alcoholic strength (enrichment) of wine by volume be raised by up to 0,5 % in years when climatic conditions have been exceptionally unfavourable.
(2)
Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom have requested such increases of the limits for enrichment of the wine produced using the grapes harvested in the year 2012, as climatic conditions during the growing season have been exceptionally unfavourable in certain geographical regions.
(3)
Due to the exceptionally adverse weather conditions during 2012, the limits on increases in the natural alcoholic strength provided for in Point A.2 of Annex XVa to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 do not enable the production of wine with an appropriate total alcoholic strength in certain wine-growing regions for which there would normally be market demand.
(4)
It is therefore appropriate to authorise an increase of the limits for the enrichment of wine produced using the grapes harvested in 2012 in Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
(5)
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: