Ad hoc support to Ukraine with mock sessions for the bilateral screening on enlargement negotiations

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), through the EU-funded EU4IP project, provided targeted support to Ukrainian authorities in preparation for accession negotiations related to Chapter 7 of the EU acquis on Intellectual Property Law

This support included two mock negotiation sessions conducted on 25–26 September 2024 and 21–22 November 2024, simulating bilateral screening discussions between Ukraine and the European Commission (EC). These sessions aimed to prepare Ukrainian officials for negotiations planned for December 2024.

Bilateral screenings are the first step in the accession negotiations and the first one with Ukraine took place from 8 to 9 July 2024. In them, the candidate country determines its level of alignment with EU legislation and outlines plans for further alignment. It is therefore crucial that the candidate country better understands the structure and format of the process, gets used to the appropriate terminology and familiarises itself with the way discussions are conducted.

The primary goal of these mock sessions was to prepare Ukraine to follow the rules and procedures required by the EC to ensure a smooth and seamless negotiation. The main Ukrainian institutions responsible for the bilateral screening are the Ministry of Economy and the Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovations (UANIPIO). Other stakeholders involved in the mock session were the EUIPO, the European Patent Office, law enforcement agencies, the judiciary and other ministries.

What was achieved?

1. First Mock Session (25-26 September 2024)
   Participants presented draft materials for the bilateral screening and received real-time feedback. This mock session helped identify areas for improvement, such as clarity, structure and alignment with EU standards.
2. Refining materials
   Between the sessions, screening materials – including presentations, questionnaires and tables of concordance – were reviewed in detail. Practical solutions were proposed to enhance their organisation, clarity and compliance with EU requirements.
3. Second Mock Session (21-22 November 2024)
   Building on the feedback from the initial mock session, this exercise equipped Ukrainian authorities with practical skills and strategic insights for the formal EU accession process.

This ad-hoc support from the EUIPO through the EU4IP project demonstrates the commitment to build an IP alliance and address the current needs of EU candidate countries, such as Ukraine. The EUIPO actively supports the Ukrainian authorities, including UANIPIO, in their efforts to align their IP system with the EU one aligned with the strategic objectives of the EUIPO. The goal is to promote stronger and more comprehensive protection and management of IP rights while providing the necessary tools and experience to further align IP practices with those in Europe.