In March, ECTA took part in a number of in person and online meetings with relevant DGs of the European Commission (including DG CONNECT, DG TAXUD, DG TRADE, DG GROW) and the Permanent Representation of Spain to the EU, to discuss most important topics of the IP agenda in Europe at this moment, such as:

• EU Design Reform;
• EU Geographical Indications protection for non-agricultural products;
• Customs related matters and the upcoming EU anti-counterfeiting toolbox;
• Implementation of the EU Copyright Directive;
• Interplay between copyright and new technologies;
• Efforts on tackling piracy of live events, particularly live sports;
• Ongoing Free Trade Agreements negotiations;
• IP developments in Ukraine, China, various African countries;
• Developments and upcoming legislation in the field of patents;
• And many other topics of interest to our members and related to ongoing projects within various ECTA Committees.

The meetings were attended by ECTA President, Mladen Vukmir; First Vice-President, Carina Gommers; Second Vice-President, Paola Ruggiero; Secretary General, Carolin Wittkamp-Kind; Treasurer, Jordi Güell; ECTA Head of Legal Affairs, Anna Ostanina; ECTA Internet Committee Chair, Nicole van Roon; ECTA Anti-Counterfeiting Committee Chair, Luigi Sansone.