1.

First, a reasonable interpretation of the provision cannot merely consider the verb ‘istituire’ used in the Italian edition; as the four versions are equally valid the words ‘établir’, ‘einrichten’ and ‘instellen’ appearing in the other three versions must be considered. Although it might be assumed for the sake of argument that the Italian expression must be interpreted to refer exclusively or more particularly to prepare in the sense of giving legal status to the register, the words used in the other languages in no way appear to confirm this interpretation. First and foremost, however, the expression in dispute can only take on its true meaning if it is seen in the context of the regulation in which it appears. Article 1 of Regulation No 24 reads as follows : ‘Member States shall, not later than 30 June 1963, prepare a viticultural land register which shall thereafter be kept up to date. This register, based on the general vineyard census, shall include the following information: …’ This is followed by a list including the total area under vines, that area subdivided according to type of production, the method of management of plantations, the classification of vine plantations according to surface area, the classification of areas under vines according to age of vine-stocks and classification of vine varieties according to year of planting. I cannot comprehend how it would be possible to keep up to date a register which was not already actually in existence. Thus this preparation, which the first paragraph of this article requires the Member State to effect within a specified period, involves gathering all the documents prepared on the basis of surveys or of administrative operations, enabling a detailed impression to be given of the intensity, the situation and the type of plantation. This requires the actual realization of an institution not merely a legal measure to this effect. The second paragraph of Article 1 confirms this impression since it lays down in detail the information which ‘this register’ must include, that is to say, the register which the foregoing paragraph provided should be prepared within a given period, since it also states that it shall be based on the general vineyard census. Article 1 of the regulation certainly refers to the actual outcome of a series of operations as a result of which it will in fact be possible for the register to operate. Finally, if there were any doubts remaining as to the meaning to be given to the sentence in dispute, it would be sufficient to refer to Regulation No 92/63 of the Council the sole objective of which was to amend the first paragraph of Article 1 of Regulation No 24 and to postpone to 31 December 1964 the date of 30 June 1963 initially prescribed. After referring to Regulation No 24 and Regulation No 143 of the Commission on the initial provisions for the preparation of the viticultural land register, there appears a recital giving the following reasons for the extension of the period : ‘Whereas more time is needed to enable the work of preparing the viticultural land register to be satisfactorily completed in certain Member States where the matter raises particularly complex problems, owing more especially to the numerous on-site inquiries to be carried out and to the time required for analysing the information obtained.’ If it should be thought that the meaning of the earlier provision required clarification this is provided by the recital of the preamble to the regulation amending it: the Council intended to extend the period prescribed for the completion of all the operations which in its view constituted the preparation of the register.