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The EU Commission has confirmed that Croatia's application for recognition of the name "Prošek" as a traditional term is valid and admissible. The Commission will continue the procedure and publish it in the Official Journal of the EU. Even though this does not mean that the application of July 2021 is recognised, but only accepted, Italian institutions are sounding the alarm. They see this as an attempt by Croatia to profit from the worldwide recognition of the name Prosecco and fear a weakening of their brand.
The Italian Ministry of Agriculture has already spoken out against this recognition and will use every argument to reject the application. "If the procedure should go ahead despite Italy's opposition, our country will refer the matter to the Court of Justice of the EU, where it is very likely that the Italian claims will be upheld," the Ministry of Agriculture in Rome let it be known. After publication of the application in the Official Journal of the EU, there is a two-month period in which the Italian authorities can lodge an objection.
Already after its EU accession in 2013, Croatia had tried in vain to protect the name "Prošek" as a protected designation of origin for the sweet wine produced on the island of Hvar from dried grapes. At that time, the EU Commission had decided in favour of the Italian Prosecco. The Croatian authorities had announced that they would appeal against the ruling.
( ru / Source: Informatore agrario; Photo: wikipedia)