In 2016 Croatia submitted an application for EU PDO to the European Commission under the name Istria extra virgin olive oil. Slovenia objected to the move, arguing that the proposed appellation could cause confusion, since both countries share the same geographical area.

Following negotiations the Croatian and Slovenian oil makers reached an agreement last year to submit a joint application for EU PDO of the Istria extra virgin olive oil, produced both in Croatian and Slovenian Istria.

The joint bid was reviewed and published by the Commission last month, which gives other EU member states until end of December to produce potential objections to granting the protected status. Provided there are no objection, the oil could be protected in six to twelve months, the Agriculture Ministry said.

If successful, this will be the first joint protection of an olive oil in the EU, but not the first Slovenian-Croatian joint protection for an agricultural product, as the countries protected Istrian prosciutto together in 2015.

Moreover, joint bids mark a positive change after the row over the EU protection the Teran wine, with two more in the making.

In May, Slovenian and Croatian beekeepers drafted a joint application for the protection of Istrian honey, while cheesemakers are mulling a similar move for protecting Istrian cheese.