The European Commission has in a preliminary stage rejected the new country wine designations decided on by France. It is now up to Paris to react to this move.

In the opinion of the european Commission, the following designations should not be permitted: Vin de Pays des Vignobles de France, Vin de Pays de l’Atlantique and Vin de Pays des Gaules. The authorities in Brussels rejected the additions to the system of coutnry wines put forward vy France on the grounds that all three designations lacked any geographical reference; they do not refer to a town nor a region. The French government now has two months in which to try to change the minds of the Commission in Brussels.