The country presentation simulation sessions for Chapter 7: Intellectual Property Law were held from October 23 to 25, at the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI), in the context of preparation for the Bilateral Screening meeting of the Republic of Moldova with the European Commission, planned for the end of the current year.

The event was attended by Rodica Crudu, State Secretary for European Integration, members of Working Group No. 7 “Intellectual Property Law”, representatives of the Office for European Integration, the State Chancellery, the Center for Harmonization of Legislation, as well as international experts with extensive experience in the European integration process and representatives of other related institutions.

In the opening of the event, the Director General of AGEPI, Eugeniu Rusu, emphasized the importance of this exercise for strengthening the institutional capacity of the Republic of Moldova in the process of joining the European Union. He noted that the achievement of a strong legislative and institutional framework in the field of intellectual property is essential for alignment with European standards and for stimulating innovation and economic competitiveness.

During the simulation sessions, AGEPI specialists presented the current situation in various areas of intellectual property rights, such as the protection of trademarks, inventions, geographical indications, copyright and related rights and other relevant aspects of intellectual property. The degree of alignment of the national legislation with the norms and requirements of the European Union was analyzed, highlighting the progress made so far in harmonizing the national regulations with the European standards and good practices. At the same time, the challenges and difficulties encountered in the process of implementing the Community acquis in this field were discussed, including aspects related to the institutional capacity and the resources needed for an effective application of the harmonized legislation. The participants also presented the future plans and perspectives for the continuation of the harmonization process, with a focus on concrete measures to improve the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in accordance with EU requirements.

We remind you that the Bilateral Screening is the exercise in which the candidate country is invited to present to the European Commission the degree of approximation of the national legislation with the EU legislation, which are the institutional capacities and future plans.

In the next period, the country presentations for the Bilateral Screening meeting, related to Chapter 7, are to be finalized and approved by all the members of Working Group No. 7 and subsequently validated by the Cabinet of Ministers.

The country presentations will be supported by the members of Working Group No. 7 “Intellectual Property Law” during the Bilateral Screening meeting to be held on December 17-18, 2024, in Brussels.