Slovenia will not appeal the EU General Court's dismissal of its lawsuit against the European Commission in the case of the Istrian teran wine, Slovenian media said on Monday.

The deadline to appeal expires on Thursday.

The ruling, handed down in early September, upheld the Commission’s decision which allowed Croatian winemakers in Istria County to continue to use the “Hrvatska Istra – teran” label for their traditional wine and dismissed the lawsuit whereby Slovenia requested the decision be quashed.

Slovenian news agency STA said no explanation was given for the decision not to appeal.

Agriculture Minister Joze Podgorsek said his ministry was focused on helping Slovenian winemakers and promoting the Slovenian teran, adding that an appeal would not have had a vital impact on the status of the Slovenian teran.

According to Slovenian media, some winemakers agree with the decision not to appeal, while others do not, but they will accept any state aid to compensate for losses. They will insist that the state keep the ban on the sale of the Istrian teran in Slovenia, seeing it as competition.