Annual stakeholder’s event

Target Country: Armenia, Moldova, Ukraine
IPR area: Awareness-raising

The objective of this activity is to promote the EU4IP on a rotating basis by highlighting the benefits it will bring to the respective national IP systems of Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine. In fact, it will improve the awareness among IPR users, enforcement practitioners and national media of the importance and value of IP, as well as the negative effects and risks related to counterfeiting and piracy.

The event is tentatively scheduled in Alicante, Spain and would involve media coverage but could be held back-to-back with another project or regional activity organised by Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST) in the country (i.e. EU4Business forum). The event will facilitate dialogue and coordination between DG ENEST, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), and the IP offices of partner countries on key policy, legislative, and operational priorities.

The event will target a large segment of IPR practitioners and reach out to specific segments of the general public, notably policy makers from government and enforcement agencies, SMEs, producers and private sector representatives, and economic media but also the public in general and, including the youth.

Participants will include representatives from the European Commission (DG ENEST), EUIPO management and technical experts, heads and officials from the Intellectual Property Offices of Armenia, Moldova, and Ukraine, as well as other relevant stakeholders, including members of the Project Steering Committee, such as Community Plant Variety Office, European Patent Office, World Intellectual Property Organization or EU Member State representatives and IP users.

The proposed activity will stand as an opportunity to raise the overall awareness of the public in the regions and may focus on key topics such as the risks associated with buying counterfeit products and contribution to international crime organisations. The event will contribute to strengthening existing relations between the EU and the partner countries and will underline the EUIPO’s support to the Association Agendas on IP-related matters under the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area.