On 6 April this year, at the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI) took place the working visit of the European Commission delegation, led by Petros Sourmelis, Head of Unit on Trade Aspects of EU Neighbourhood Policy, the European Commission.

The purpose of the visit was to discuss about the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the Republic of Moldova, especially the protection of geographical indications in the context of implementation of the RM-EU Association Agreement.

The main topic of the meeting was the implementation of Moldova’s commitments on intellectual property in the context of the Association Agreement.

Another issue was related to the enforcement of geographical indications protected under the Association Agreement, with particular reference to the protection of the controlled appellation of origin Prosecco.

We remind that the controlled appellation of origin Prosecco benefits in the Republic of Moldova from protection both under the Association Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova, and in accordance with the Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their International Registration, agreement to which the Republic of Moldova is a party. This appellation is also used by a company from the Republic of Moldova to mark wines produced in Moldova.

AGEPI leadership informed the EU delegation about the actions undertaken by the Agency, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry and other authorities to ensure the protection of EU geographical indications in the Republic of Moldova and pledged to make every effort to ensure the enforcement of the right to the protection of geographical indications of European products in the Republic of Moldova, including in national courts.

The parties exchanged opinions on the actions which the Moldovan authorities are supposed to take to improve the system of enforcement of IP rights in the Republic of Moldova, the expectations for the support from European structures and the role of right holders in the implementation of their rights in the Republic of Moldova.

Finally, the parties agreed to continue a constructive dialogue, including at the meeting of the RM-EU Association Committee in Trade Configuration whose co-president from the EU is Petros Sourmelis and in the meeting of the RM-EU Geographical Indications Subcommittee, chaired by the Director General of AGEPI. It should be noted that the next meeting of the RM-EU Geographical Indications Subcommittee will be hosted by AGEPI, in October 2017.