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7/17/2009

ACTA - EU Stakeholders' Consultation Meeting. 21 May 2009. Brussels

About 150 EU 'stakeholders' attended the meeting in Brussels on 21 May following the publication by the EU and other negotiating parties of a "Summary of Key elements under discussion" - clearly designed to assuage criticisms of the ACTA process as being 'secretive'. The meeting was also held to manifest some momentum to the process which has undeniably been stalled by the lack of any real progress on key issues and the postponement of recent meetings due to 'the change of administration in Washington'. Several GACG Network members, including the Chairman representing both Marques and UAACP were present.

About 150 EU 'stakeholders' attended the meeting in Brussels on 21 May following the publication by the EU and other negotiating parties of a "Summary of Key elements under discussion" - clearly designed to assuage criticisms of the ACTA process as being 'secretive'. The meeting was also held to manifest some momentum to the process which has undeniably been stalled by the lack of any real progress on key issues and the postponement of recent meetings due to 'the change of administration in Washington'. Several GACG Network members, including the Chairman representing both Marques and UAACP were present.

The EC podium was led by Luc Devigne of DG Trade supported by Pedro Velasco Martins and Alexandra Iliopoulou also of DG Trade along with Benoit Lory of DG Markt and Christian Tournier of DG Justice, Liberty and Security. The meeting took the form of a brief introduction by Mr Devigne and then a run through the "Summary of Key Elements" with questions after each section.

See http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/sectoral/intell_property/acta_en.htm

After the meeting, the main questions remained unanswered; there was no indication of a resolution of the internal EU positions on criminal sanctions and the internet and, more significantly, no indication of when the negotiations will be resumed - and thus how the treaty base would eventually be widened. The postponed January meeting in Morocco rescheduled for 'May' was postponed again. The reason given: that the USA (Obama administration) are still not ready.

There is a good reportage on the meeting at: http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2009/04/22/european-commission-on-acta-trips-is-floor-not-ceiling/

The 'Business Associations Memoranda to the negotiators' are available via the ICC/Bascap link on our links page.