On June 27, the first meeting of the Project Steering Committee “Strengthening Intellectual Property Rights in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine” (EU4IP), funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), was held online. The project aims to support the three countries in strengthening their national intellectual property systems and to facilitate the alignment of their legal and administrative frameworks with European Union standards, in the context of preparations for EU accession.

The event brought together experts involved in the implementation of the project and representatives of the beneficiary countries. The delegation of the Republic of Moldova was led by the Deputy Director General of the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI), Natalia Mogol.

In opening the meeting, Natalia Mogol highlighted the importance of the EU4IP project for the Republic of Moldova, emphasizing the need to strengthen the intellectual property system in which intellectual property is not only protected, but also serves as a powerful engine of economic growth and cultural development.

The experts presented the essential aspects of the project, including its purpose, structure, first work plan and anticipated results. The achievements during the project’s inception period were also discussed, highlighting the progress made and the next steps to achieve the objectives.

The EU4IP project represents a major step in the efforts of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine to integrate into the European Union, providing technical support and expertise to create a solid intellectual property system harmonized with European norms. It has a duration of 4 years and a total budget of 4 million euros, co-financed by the European Commission (2.8 million euros) and EUIPO (1.2 million euros).