Brussels, 10/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - In Ljubljana on Friday, Commissioner Franz Fischler officially signed the agreement negotiated with the Slovenian authorities establishing preferential reciprocal trade concessions for various wines. The agreement will come into force on 1 January 2002 and was adopted by the EU Council of Ministers at the end of November. Slovenia will be authorised to export at zero duty 16,000 hectolitres of high quality sparkling wine and wine from fresh grapes in 2002 (increasing by 4800 hl a year until the ceiling of 72,000 hl is reached); and 32,000 hl of wine from fresh grapes. In 2002, the EU can export 12,000 hl of high quality sparkling wines and wines from fresh grapes to Slovenia, increasing by 1,200 hl a year until the ceiling of 15,000 hl is reached. The agreement also includes measures on recognition, protection and control of wine denominations of wine and the registered designation of spirits.