Customs Union Working Group approves new anti-counterfeiting and piracy action plan
Prague, 18th February 2009
The EU Customs Union Working Group – Customs Legislation and Policy – has approved the draft action plan of the customs authorities for the combat against intellectual property rights infringements in 2009-2012, prepared by the Presidency in cooperation with the Commission.
The action plan sets forth EU priorities for the enforcement of intellectual property rights. It focuses on current problems, including, e.g. on-line offers and sale of counterfeit products harmful to health, safety and the environment. Based on the action plan, the Czech Presidency has prepared a draft resolution of the Council of the EU that, along with the action plan itself, will be presented at the meeting of the Competitiveness Council in March 2009, as a so-called A point.
The new action plan is based on the assessment of the previous action plan prepared by the British Presidency, the conclusions of last year’s Paris seminar on the enforcement of intellectual property rights, and on the assessment of the questionnaire regarding this issue prepared by the Czech Customs Administration. The action plan incorporates proposals for new legislation, for operating cooperation between customs administrations within the EU and with third countries, it addresses cooperation with the owners of the rights and PR activities aimed to improve the enforcement of intellectual property rights.
Protection of intellectual property rights is one of the key priorities of the Czech Presidency in the field of customs. However, the efforts made by the Presidency in this area will hardly end with the approval of the action plan. The Czech Republic has presented draft user requirements for a pan-European information system for electronic exchange of information on counterfeit goods that will further help simplify the procedures associated with the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the European Union for expert discussion and review.
Radka Kohutova,
Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Finance
