At the heart of BusinessEurope's priorities for the next institutional cycle, which were published on 16 September, is the adoption of a horizontal approach to intellectual property issues.
Over the next five years, the organisation, which represents the European business community, is calling for the integration of intellectual property (IP)—a subject it considers "fundamental” to the European economy—into EU industrial policy, in the same way as innovation or competition policies.
Indeed, technological and digital advances alike pose new challenges. This is why “the EU must ensure a good balance between intellectual property protection and legal certainty, in order to encourage new technologies”, said BusinessEurope's Director General, Markus J. Beyrer, in a press release.
European employers also believe that it is imperative for the Union to develop a culture of IP literacy to raise awareness of the benefits of IP.
Alignment of EU standards
As for foreign trade, BusinessEurope has called for a “level playing field” in respect of intellectual property rights and efforts to align IP standards worldwide.
The document also states that the same strategy must be applied in all EU bilateral trade treaties.
Finally, the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement and the promotion thereof must remain a priority for the EU.
A central role
IP rights include patents, trademarks, designs and models, as well as copyright.
IP-intensive industries generate around 42% of the EU's GDP, or 28% of its employment, according to EPO/EUIPO figures.
They also represent about 90% of EU trade with the rest of the world.
However, both imports of counterfeit or pirated goods into the EU and industrial espionage have resulted in a considerable loss of income for the EU, putting 289,000 jobs at risk in 2018, according to the European Commission.
To consult the document (in English): https://bit.ly/2kn3Kjq (Original version in French by Hermine Donceel)