Slovenia's wish to be granted the protected designation of origin (PDO) for the sausage is opposed by Austria, which does not want the label to only be allowed in Slovenia, arguing that a nearly identical sausage is also made in Austria.

To qualify for a PDO the product must have qualities and characteristics which are essentially due to its region of production; it must also be produced, processed and prepared exclusively within that region.

Speaking to the press on the margin of a two-day session of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels on Monday, Bogovič said he had discussed the issue with his Austrian counterpart Nicolaus Berlakovich on the sidelines of a conference on aquaculture in Salzburg last Friday.

He said they had agreed that a team of experts from both countries would meet in Slovenia next week in a bid to find a solution.

According to Bogovič, he and Berlakovich discovered that the core of the problem was that Austria makes a similar sausage called Käsekreiner, but that this sausage contains bits of cheese.

"We both came to a conclusion that these are two very different products," the Slovenian minister said.

Kranjska klobasa"contains at least 68% pork and up to 20% of bacon and 12% of beef, plus salt, garlic and black pepper.

"I believe and hope that together we will find a compromise solution which will not affect our bid to protect kranjska klobasa," Bogovič pointed out.

The European Commission published a notice on "kranjska klobasa" in the EU's Official Journal in February, giving member states and third countries six months to lodge an appeal. Austria has already announced it would oppose granting the Slovenian sausage the requested status.

Once the Commission establishes whether the potential appeals are justified, it will call on the countries involved to reach an agreement. If that fails, the Commission will re-examine the application with the help of an expert committee.

Slovenia has already obtained special EU status for eleven of its traditional food products.