EUIPO supports customs enforcement cooperation through study visit to Hungary
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), in cooperation with the Hungarian National Tax and Customs Administration (NTCA), with the participation of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office (HIPO), supported a study visit to Budapest for customs officers from Armenia, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, and the Western Balkans from 6 to 8 October 2026. The activity took place in the framework of the EU-funded EU4IP and EU4IP-WB projects and built on the successful study visit organised in 2025.
The three-day programme provided customs officers with the opportunity to share their individual experiences and exchange European best practices on enforcing intellectual property (IP) rights at the border. Through presentations, discussions and on-site visits, participants explored different approaches to detecting and addressing IP infringement, thus strengthening cooperation between enforcement authorities and rights holders and combating counterfeiting and piracy in trade.
The programme began at the NTCA Central Office, where participants received an overview of the work of Hungarian customs, enforcement, and criminal departments. Sessions also addressed national practices and institutional cooperation in IP enforcement, fake medical products and cooperation between customs authorities and rights holders in tackling counterfeit and pirated goods.
Further exchanges took place at the University of Public Service and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL), thus complementing the operational visits with institutional perspectives on enforcement and capacity building.
This cooperation with the Hungarian authorities reflects the Team Europe approach, bringing Member State expertise to the EUIPO’s many cooperation activities with partner countries. By facilitating direct exchanges between customs practitioners, the activity supported stronger institutional cooperation and made it possible for participants to share their particular Member State approach when enforcing IP rights at the border. Effective customs enforcement contributes to preventing counterfeit and pirated goods from entering the market, thereby supporting rights holders, legitimate businesses, and consumers alike.
The activity also reflects the EUIPO’s broader role in IP enforcement through the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights, an integral part of the EUIPO, which brings together public and private stakeholders to support the protection and enforcement of IP rights.
Through the EU-funded EU4IP and EU4IP-WB projects, the EUIPO continues to support the candidate countries, potential candidates, and neighbouring countries in strengthening their IP systems and reinforcing cooperation with EU institutions and Member State authorities.