North Macedonia

European Union: Conclusion of two New Co-operation Agreements with the Russian Federation and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

IRIS 1998-2:1/5

Frédéric Pinard

European Audiovisual Observatory

By decision of 30 October 1997, the Council of the European Union approved the conclusion of a partnership and co-operation agreement between the European Communities and the Russian Federation. As usual, the Agreement contains provisions concerning intellectual property (Article 54 and Appendix 10), providing that Russia will continue to improve the protection of intellectual, industrial and commercial property rights in order to guarantee, within a period of five years from the date on which the agreement comes into force, a level of protection similar to that which exists in the Community, and effective means of ensuring that such rights are respected. At the end of this period Russia has undertaken to sign certain multilateral agreements on intellectual property rights to which the member States of the Communities are party, namely the Berne Convention for the protection of literary and artistic works (Paris Text, 1971) and the International Convention for the protection of performers, producers of phonograms and broadcasting organisations (Rome, 1961). The Agreement also provides for greater co-operation in the field of information technologies and the development of modern information management methods, particularly as regards the media (Article 77). The co-operation Agreement between the European Communities and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia also refers to intellectual property, but in more general terms (Articles 25 and 26), stipulating that effective and adequate protection of intellectual property rights and the rights that implies must, eventually, be guaranteed. The signature of the international conventions on intellectual property is also covered, although none are referred to specifically. The media are not covered by an specific clause, although there is reference to an effort at co-operation in the field of telecommunications (Article 11).