EU Boosts IP Rights in Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia
A European Union-funded project to strengthen intellectual property rights in Moldova, Ukraine, and Georgia was launched in Chisinau today. The four-year project has a total budget of 4 million euros.
According to experts, intellectual property plays a crucial role in driving innovation, and the exchange of ideas and best practices between the partner countries will strengthen this area.
The project will lay the foundations for new cooperation with the European Union to strengthen the field and increase innovation, said Eugeniu Rusu, Director of the State Agency for Intellectual Property.
"Through this project, we aim to strengthen the legal and institutional framework in the field of intellectual property, to support institutional capacities, and to raise awareness among citizens and business communities about the importance and benefits of protecting intellectual property rights. We are committed to intensifying our efforts to ensure an environment conducive to innovation and sustainable economic development."
A chapter on opening accession negotiations for Moldova to the European Union also concerns the field of intellectual property, where reforms will be necessary, said Joao Negrao, Executive Director of the European Union Intellectual Property Office.
"Intellectual property is not an end in itself, it is a means to generate jobs and strengthen our societies. Without intellectual property rights there is no innovation, and without innovation there is no progress. We need our partner countries in this regard and we need to help them to approach the legal framework of the European Union, including by generating opportunities for the exchange of good practices."
The negotiation chapter on intellectual property is complex and requires the consolidation of joint efforts in this direction, noted Rodica Crudu, Secretary of State for European Integration.
"I am convinced that the project will help the State Agency for Intellectual Property to continue with great success the efforts that are underway, including as an institution that coordinates the working groups."
Moldova is to open accession negotiations with the Community bloc on 35 chapters, which, among other things, also concern intellectual property rights. The internal accession process and the coordination of the work of the working groups on all these chapters will be managed by the Office for European Integration, created by the Government in November last year.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
