On Tuesday Slovenian and representatives of EC are expected to present their positions and answer questions from judges. Representatives of Croatia will also participate. According to Slovenian sources, their main argument is that Croatia did not ask for any teran exemptions during the accession negotiations for EU membership.
In 2017, the EC allowed Croatia to use the name teran on a wine label from Croatian Istria, although Slovenia had protected then name for its red wine, which is produced from grapes refošk, originating from Slovenian Kras. The EC stated that the decision was an exception, without prejudice to Slovenia's right to its protection of geographical origin, since its teran is produced on specific porous soil, unlike the Croatian teran.
The concession was made after the EC and Commissioner Phil Hogan failed in their attempts to reconcile Slovenia and Croatia.Slovenia did not allow both wines of similar taste and organoleptic characteristics to receive European protection, and Slovenia had previously rejected the compromise proposal on the cross-border protection of teran, along with Croatia, but and Italy, which also traditionally produces teran.
Slovenia launched the lawsuit on 15 September 2017. The Slovenian side claims that the condition set by the EU - that at the term Croatian Istria on the wine label must be bigger than the term teran - is confusing for consumers, because they can mistakenly assume that it is protected Slovenian wine "teran".
Slovenia expects the final verdict could be announced next year.
On December 11, a lawyer from the EU Court of Justice should give his opinion on jurisdiction over the border dispute and the implementation of the arbitration agreement between Slovenia and Croatia.