The 8th meeting of the Geographical Indications Sub-Committee (GI Sub-Committee), established in accordance with Article 306 of the Association Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union, was held on November 22, in videoconference format.

The meeting was organized by the European Union, represented by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI), which currently holds the presidency of the GI Sub-Committee.

The Republic of Moldova was represented in the committee by the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI), the body responsible for the implementation in the Republic of Moldova of the provisions of the Association Agreement in the field of intellectual property, including in the field of geographical indications.

The Sub-Committee was chaired by Frank Bollen, Head of Unit AGRI G4 – “Neighbourhood, Enlargement and Pre-Accession Assistance”, Head of the EU Delegation to the Sub-Committee.

The Republic of Moldova’s delegation, composed of representatives of AGEPI, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, was led by the Director General of AGEPI, Eugeniu Rusu.

In the opening of the Sub-Committee, Frank Bollen congratulated the Republic of Moldova on obtaining the status of a candidate state for accession to the European Union and ensured all the support of the European Commission in this European path of our country.

The Director General of AGEPI, in his speech, mentioned: “I express my sincere appreciation for the support that the European Union has offered us, especially in these difficult times, and I am sure that this cooperation will continue in a constructive format for the mutual benefit of both parties. I want to emphasize that AGEPI has made and will continue to make permanent efforts to create a strong system for the protection and promotion of geographical indications in the Republic of Moldova.”

According to its mandate, the Geographical Indications is Sub-Committee responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Geographical Indications Section of the Association Agreement and serves as a forum for co-operation and dialogue on geographical indications between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova. Thus, the participants in the 8th meeting reviewed the latest developments recorded in the geographical indications system in the European Union and the Republic of Moldova after the last meeting held in December 2021, the discussions being focused on the implementation of the geographical indications section in the Association Agreement.

In accordance with the Rules of Procedure, the Presidency of the Sub-Committee shall be chaired alternatively by the European Union and the Republic of Moldova. On January 1, 2023, the Presidency of the Geographical Indications Sub-Committee will be taken over by the Republic of Moldova.