PAC Advances for Wineries and Wine Cooperatives: What Changes in 2026

Key data

Wineries and wine cooperatives participating in sectoral support programmes financed by the PAC have a relevant update in 2026: the EU has modified the conditions for advances they can receive before justifying expenditure. The Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/1160, published on 6 August 2026, adjusts the advance regime established in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/127, which develops Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 on PAC financing and management.

The stated objective of the regulation is to adapt the regulatory framework to the real operational needs of the sector, facilitating early access to European funds. In practice, this means that the conditions or percentages under which advance payments can be requested and received are adjusted in favour of greater flexibility for beneficiaries.

What does this regulation establish?

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/1160 specifically modifies Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/127, which is the regulation that develops in detail the advance regime applicable to interventions in the wine sector within the PAC framework.

The modification focuses on the following elements:

• Conditions for access to advances: The conditions under which beneficiaries can request and receive advance payments within the framework of wine sector interventions are adjusted.
• Advance percentages: The percentages or thresholds that determine what part of the aid can be advanced before full expenditure justification are modified.
• Application by national paying agencies: The paying agencies of each Member State —in Spain, FEGA and equivalent regional agencies— must incorporate the new conditions into their internal aid management procedures.

The regulation does not repeal Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/127, but modifies it specifically regarding the advance regime. The rest of the regulatory framework for PAC wine interventions remains in force.

Economic and operational impact

The most direct impact of this modification is on the liquidity of wineries, cooperatives and wine producers participating in sectoral support programmes co-financed by the EU. PAC wine interventions include measures such as vineyard restructuring and conversion, promotion in third-country markets, investments in facilities or by-product management.

In these programmes, beneficiaries typically must advance expenditure and wait for justification to receive the aid. The advance regime allows receiving part of the funds before completing justification, which relieves cash flow pressure. A flexibilization of this regime has immediate practical consequences:

• Reduced need for bridge bank financing to cover the period between expenditure execution and subsidy receipt.
• Reduction in the financial cost associated with that bridge financing (interest, opening fees, guarantees).
• Greater capacity to execute larger projects without cash flow tensions.
• Improved financial planning for the campaign or investment year.

From an operational perspective, national paying agencies will need to review and update their internal procedures to apply the new conditions. This may involve changes to advance request forms, guarantee requirements or resolution timelines.

Who does it affect?

• Wineries participating in PAC wine sector intervention programmes (vineyard restructuring, investments, external promotion).
• Wine cooperatives benefiting from European aid in the sector.
• Individual wine producers covered by PAC sectoral interventions.
• National and regional paying agencies (in Spain: FEGA and equivalent regional agencies) that manage these aids.
• Advisors and agricultural subsidy managers who process advance requests on behalf of their wine sector clients.

Practical example

A wine cooperative in Castilla-La Mancha has been approved for a vineyard restructuring intervention co-financed by the PAC, with total aid of €200,000. Under the previous regime of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/127, it could request an advance subject to certain conditions and percentages. With the modification introduced by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/1160, the conditions for access to that advance are made more flexible.

In practice, this may mean that the cooperative accesses a larger proportion of the approved amount before justifying expenditure, or that the guarantee requirements for obtaining the advance are less stringent. The direct result is that the cooperative needs less bridge bank financing to execute the restructuring works, thus reducing the total financial cost of the project.

To find out the exact percentages and conditions applicable after the modification, the cooperative should consult with the corresponding regional paying agency, which will have updated its procedures to incorporate the new regulation conditions.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify if you participate in PAC wine interventions: Review whether your winery, cooperative or operation has active or planned aid files within the framework of PAC sectoral programmes (vineyard restructuring, external promotion, investments, by-product management).
2. Contact the regional paying agency: Request updated information on the new advance conditions applicable after Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/1160 enters into force. Paying agencies must have adapted their procedures.
3. Review the financial planning of ongoing projects: If you have approved projects with pending advance requests, analyse whether the new conditions allow you to access a larger amount or with fewer guarantee requirements, and adjust your cash flow plan accordingly.
4. Update internal procedures if you are a paying agency: Aid management entities must incorporate the new regulation conditions into their forms, instructions and advance resolutions.
5. Consult with your agricultural subsidy advisor: If you manage aids through a specialized advisor or management firm, ensure they are aware of the modification and can apply it correctly in advance requests they process on your behalf.

Official source

Consult complete regulation at official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202601160