The second meeting of the Steering Committee of the Project “Strengthening Intellectual Property Rights in the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine” (EU4IP), funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), was held online on December 15, 2025. Representatives of the European institutions and national intellectual property offices involved in the implementation of the project participated in the meeting.

The meeting presented the achievements achieved under the first work plan, highlighting significant progress in harmonizing legislation, strengthening institutional capacities and supporting reform processes in the beneficiary state. The visions for the 2026 activity plan were also presented, which provides for complex and ambitious actions aimed at further contributing to the alignment of national intellectual property systems with European Union standards.

In his opening message, the Director General of the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI), Mr. Eugeniu Rusu, emphasized the importance of the EU4IP Project for the advancement of the Republic of Moldova in the field of intellectual property and in the context of the accession process to the European Union. He also highlighted the main activities carried out in 2025 with the support of the project, including the Regional Conference on Intellectual Property and Creative Industries [1], organized in September, the National Workshop on the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights in the Republic of Moldova [2], held in November, as well as the International Specialized Exhibition INFOINVENT - 2025 [3], organized in December. According to the Director General, these events received very positive feedback from the participants, confirming the impact and relevance of the initiatives supported by the EU4IP Project.

Representatives of AGEPI and the National Intellectual Property Office of Ukraine (UANIPIO) welcomed the expansion of the project to include Armenia, expressing their openness and hope for effective cooperation aimed at strengthening the national intellectual property systems of the participating countries.

In their interventions during the meeting, representatives of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the European Patent Office (EPO) and the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) appreciated the results and achievements obtained under the first work plan of the EU4IP Project, congratulated the participating implementing teams and national offices. At the same time, they emphasized that the activity plan for 2026 is ambitious and focused on concrete results.

The second meeting of the EU4IP Project Steering Committee reconfirmed the common commitment of all parties to continue close cooperation and to contribute to the development of a modern, efficient and harmonized intellectual property rights protection system.