27-28 September 2005: Protection of Geographical Indications, Zagreb

The seminar on “Protection of Geographical Indications” will be held in Zagreb (Hotel Panorama) on 27 and 28 September 2005 under the EC-funded Programme on Intellectual Property Rights in the Western Balkans. Co-organiser of the seminar is the State Office for Intellectual Property of Croatia. The main objective of this event is to help agricultural and other manufacturers to create added value for their products.

Dragan Kovacevic, State Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Croatia, will open the event and welcome representatives from the EC's DG Trade, National Institute of Appellations of Origin (Paris), German Association of Spirits, and the delegations of the five countries participating in the CARDS Project.

International experts from different countries such as France, Italy and Germany will give lectures to representatives of agricultural manufacturers' associations, governmental bodies, university faculties, chambers of commerce, etc. The seminar topics will cover the EU framework for the protection of geographical indications (wines, spirits and other agricultural products and other non-agricultural products such as cheese, ham, and sausages), requirements for registration of GI, reports from companies, international negotiations on geographical indications, GI protection for wines, etc. Seminar participants will be able to go on a visit to some Croatian wine producers on the second day of the seminar. One hundred and fifty participants from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro are expected to attend this seminar.

Agricultural and other manufacturers will be told about the advantages of using geographical indications for marketing purposes and to enhance product competitiveness. The CARDS Regional IPR Programme is putting on this event as a means of promoting regional co-operation and helping transition states to face the challenges of the EU economic environment.