Vine growers from Champagne have met with a delegation of the European Parliament in Eparnay to discuss the proposed liberalisation of planting rights in the European Union.

The Syndicat General des Vignerons de la Champagne wants to maintain restrictions on planting in the sector, which are due to be abolished in 2016 as part of plans to create new jobs and increase competition.

Producers, however, are concerned that the move will dilute the quality of champagne and damage the drink's prestigious image.

A group of MEPs recently travelled to the Gaston Chiquet winery to learn about how champagne is produced, before head to Bollinger and finally for a seminar on planting rights.

"It is important to go to places to see the situation on the ground," the Daily Telegraph reports Luxembourg MEP Astrid Lulling as saying.

"If we are not well-informed our judgement will not be good and we will make bad decisions."