In France, Spain and for a large part also in UK, the sowing of spring barley ended at the end of March. In many other countries of Europe the work couldn’t be done because of the wet and cold weather. At the beginning of April with warm and dry weather, there is a good possibility to do the sowing. Larger effects because of the delay are not expected.

Members of the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukraine’s parliament, approved up to Hr 6 billion (EUR 560 million) in tax hikes by raising excise rates on cigarettes, alcohol and diesel fuel. The tax hike comes into effect on 1 May 2009. However, this measure still leaves a deficit projected to be much larger than the 3 percent reportedly sought by the IMF.

The opposition blames President Saakashvili for the disastrous war last August and says he cannot lead Georgia forward because of his antagonistic relationship with Moscow.

Carlsberg (or Baltika Breweries – depending on whose announcement you prefer to trust more) have signed an agreement with the leading Mexican brewer Grupo Modelo to extend their current business cooperation to include the markets of Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, and Belarus as well as Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Moldova.

When it comes to BHI’s CEOs, it’s been a bit like “here today, gone tomorrow”. Except involuntarily so, if you were to ask the CEOs in question.

Brewers – well, we spotted a few – were probably eating out their hearts during the series of presentations under the heading “Wine’s Best Friends.” It may be hard to believe, but there are people out there who can wax lyrically over salt (salt, indeed!), or chilli pepper for half an hour. And it was not all hot air.

Spanish wine exports were expected to have reached 16.5 million hl in 2008, a world market share of 19 percent, compared with 15 percent for France at 13.6 million hl, the OIV reported.

Heineken announced that it will propose to the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 23 April 2009 that Mr Christophe Navarre, a Belgian, be appointed a member of the Supervisory Board of Heineken N.V. for a period of four years.

Peter Kraus is also president of the “Bund der Doemensianer” (an association of active and former members of the Doemens Academy), and thereby the first Doemensian at the head of Doemens.

After nine years at the helm of Germany’s 13.5 million hl Radeberger Group, Mr Kallmeyer had to bid his adieu as Radeberger would not relent on its strict retirement policy.