Brussels, 26/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - The Competitiveness Council has still not been able to reach a decision on revising the trademarks system. The Commission and member states have been unable to agree on the draft compromises on the table. Now that the technical questions have been concluded, the delegations should be able to focus on the political questions. An agreement is expected after the summer recess.
The Greek Presidency has had to make do with presenting a progress report at the meeting of the ministers concerned on Monday 26 May. Three compromise proposals have already been submitted by the Presidency but none of them has obtained the approval of all the parties. The Presidency notes that there were “significant differences of opinion” between the Commission and the member state delegations on a substantial number of political questions, including harmonisation of national procedures; delegated acts; Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (OHIM) governance; its cooperation with national trademarks offices, its funding and charges. The Commission confirmed these differences and strongly recommended that there be no return to the technical details, which have sufficiently been explored during working meetings, and instead begin the “dynamic of political discussion”.
The German delegation pointed out that current provisions were still “vague” regarding counterfeiting and the Polish delegation said that European rules are difficult to apply under the Polish legal system.
Despite the differences, Greek Secretary of State for Competitiveness Notes Mitarachi said that he was optimistic and convinced of the need to ensure that the adjustments needed were made, pointing out that the contribution to the European economy from companies dependent on trademarks had risen to 34% of GDP in 2010. He promised an agreement very soon and the progress report suggesting possible consensus at the Council, in September. (MD)