Intellectual Property package; future of farming and fighting VAT fraud - Hoofdinhoud
The Commission presents measures for the protection of Intellectual Property rights and sets out the direction for the future Common Agricultural Policy
Intellectual property rights
Intellectual Property Rights are one of the principal means through which companies, creators, researchers and inventors generate returns on their investment in knowledge and creation. Patents, trademarks, geographical indications, designs, trade secrets and copyrights are a key incentive to creativity and innovation, and improve consumer choice and job creation in Europe's economy.
To fully play its role in promoting investment in innovation and growth, the Intellectual Property Rights system needs to be balanced, efficient and properly enforced in the EU, at our borders and internationally. This is the reason why the Commission has presented today measures for a more efficient and predictable judicial enforcement regime in the EU. In doing so, the Commission is responding to the increase in Intellectual Property Rights infringements across the globe, and to the need to adapt enforcement actions to the requirements of today's digital age.
The measures adopted today include stepping up the fight against counterfeiting and piracy and ensuring an equally high level of legal protection and a predictable judicial framework across the EU. The initiatives also aim at encouraging the industry to fight Intellectual Property Rights infringements and reducing the volume of counterfeited products reaching the EU market. They will make it easier to tackle the fact that 5% of goods imported into the EU (worth €85 billion) are counterfeited or pirated.
The Commission's proposals also intend to create a fair and balanced system for Standard Essential Patents which provide protection to many key technologies that are part of global industry standards (such as WiFi or 4G).
Today's initiatives were announced in the 2015 Single Market Strategy - a roadmap to deliver on President Juncker's political commitment to unleash the full potential of the Single Market and make it the launchpad for European companies to thrive in the global economy.
The future of the Common Agricultural Policy
The College adopted a Communication on the Future of Food and Farming, setting out the future direction of the Common Agricultural Policy.
The cornerstone ideas of this initiative are simpler rules and a more flexible approach which will ensure that one of the oldest EU common policies remains future-proof, delivers real results in supporting farmers and leads the sustainable development of EU agriculture.
Within this approach, the basic policy parameters and goals will be set at EU level, fulfilling the EU Treaty obligations but also the already agreed objectives and targets on for instance the environment, climate change (COP 21), and a number of sustainable development goals. Each Member State would then develop its own strategic plan - approved by the Commission - setting out how it intends to meet the objectives. Rather than on compliance, attention will rather focus on monitoring progress and ensuring funding is focused on concrete results. Moving from a one-size-fits-all to a tailor-made approach means the policy and its real-life implications will be closer to those who implement it on the ground.
Support for farmers will continue through the system of direct payments. The Communication does neither pre-empt the outcome of the debate on the future of the EU finances, nor the content of its proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework.
Over the next months the discussion and work on the concrete objectives, architecture and design of the future policy will advance in parallel with the work on the next Multiannual Financial Framework. Following the Commission proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework in May 2018, legislative proposals on the future Common Agricultural Policy will be presented before the summer of 2018.
Other issues
The College adopted proposals to change the regulations on the European Medicines Agency and the European Banking Authority, following last week's decision to relocate their seats to Amsterdam and Paris respectively. The legislative change is needed to change the names of the seat of these agencies. The Commission is moving on swiftly to give clarity to the personnel of the agencies. Staff retention is key for continuation of the work of the agencies and the Commission expressed confidence that the transition will be smooth.
The College discussed a proposal to make the EU's Value Added Tax system more fraud-proof with new tools to boost cooperation between tax authorities and to close loopholes which can lead to large-scale fraud.
Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis and Commissioner Pierre Moscovici also updated the College on the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions (so-called "tax havens"). The Commission is expecting the ECOFIN Council to adopt this first-ever EU list on 5 December.
In addition, the College proposed extending the term of office of the Chair of the Single Resolution Board Dr Elke König until December 2022. This proposed extension is now submitted to the European Parliament for approval and the Parliament will hold a hearing. The final decision is then taken by the Council.
Related links
Press release - Intellectual property rights
MEMO/17/4943 - Frequently Asked Questions
Factsheet - The protection of Intellectual Property
Factsheet - Why Intellectual Property Rights matter
Factsheet - Standard Essential Patents
Press release - Common Agricultural Policy
MEMO: The future of food and farming
Factsheet: Simplification
Factsheet: Agriculture and the CAP in the EU
Factsheet: Support to farmers
Factsheet: CAP and the environment
Factsheet: Agriculture 2.0