"It was not said that Prosek would not allowed to be produced but it will not be able to be sold under that name. We have to request protection of origin", Jakovina said in response to a question by Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) MP Davor Stier about the fate of that beverage after Croatia enters the European Union.

Stier recalled that the ministry had issued a press release which noted that Prosek would not be able to be sold under that name but that later it withdrew that statement. Yet now the minister is again reiterating the same thing.

"If the press release was correct why was it withdrawn? If it was incorrect, why are you changing your opinion again? Did you perhaps as minister sign some document where you eliminated Prosek and can Prosek be sold under that label as of July 1", Stier asked.

Jakovina responded that Prosek was subject to negotiations with the European Commission (EC) long before negotiations on agriculture started and that there were pauses in negotiations and that at the insistence of Italy, HDZ withdrew Prosek from the list of traditional labels due to its similarity to Prossecco.

"The consequences would be to get sued by the EC or that Italian producers also sue Croatia if we insist on keeping that label", Jakovina underscored.

Not satisfied with the minister's response Stier accused the minister of not knowing what he was doing and that Prosek would still be able to be sold under that name even after Croatia joins the EU. "If the Italians sue us then let it be so. That is normal procedure in which we will be able to prove that Prosek is not the same as Prossecco", Stier claimed.

Jakovina responded to a question about subsidies in agriculture referring to the milk industry in particular which has been exposed to exceptional risks over the past 10 years but that the price of milk was on par to the European average.

He recalled that a bill on farmland was nearing its final phase which will be part of a strategic document to reform agriculture.