Czechs, EU near agreement on slivovitz

The EU and the Czech Republic are near to an agreement over the use of the name 'slivovitz', according to a report from the CTK​ news agency. The two parties will agree to define slivovitz as a drink distilled from plums and as a traditional Moravian product once the Czech Republic becomes a member of the EU.

Josef Vrzan of the Czech Agriculture Ministry told reporters earlier this month that slivovitz bottles will carry the definition 'distilled from plums', as well as the addition of the word 'spirit' to ensure that consumers understand that the product is alcoholic and not a fruit cordial.

CTK said that all that remained to be agreed was the design of the label, which would be put forward by the EU for approval by the Czech authorities.

There is still no agreement in site regarding wine, however, with the Czechs seeking to have their vineyards, primarily in Moravia, classified as category A, while the EU wants to see them in category B, which has stricter criteria.

CTK reported that even within government circles in Prague, there is disagreement on this issue, with Agriculture Minister Jaroslav Palas reportedly said to be willing to accept category B classification.

The question of new vineyard plantings is also under debate. Prague wants a transition period until 2009 to allow the planting of new 3,600 hectares of new vineyards to bring production up to the levels seen in the late 1980s, and while the EU is said to be willing to accept this, it is balking at the suggestion that the vines be planted on former vineyard land which has since been converted to a different use.