Fight against counterfeiting

Key points

The EESC:

• believes that more can still be done to support SMEs by increasing the amount of the damages and compensation granted in counterfeit cases. It should be recommended that Member States (that do not currently do so) recognise punitive damages and interest in their national legislation;
• considers that there should be more emphasis on hearing the experiences of company leaders who have successfully fought counterfeiting through industrial property rights;
• believes that a Europe-wide counterfeiting insurance would be worth introducing and that Member States should address the issue of how assets are valued;
• calls for simpler, faster and more effective procedures for reporting and withdrawing ads for counterfeit products online, and will monitor whether the obligations laid down in the DSA have a real impact on reducing the supply of counterfeit goods on the internet;
• will monitor the implementation of the recommendations contained in the EU Toolbox against counterfeiting;
• believes that counterfeiting must be a priority for the European Anti-Fraud Office and Europol, and should also be one of the priorities of the EMPACT EU Policy Cycle;
• will check very carefully whether the issue of counterfeiting is systematically included in the trade agreements that the EU concludes with its partners, including the implementation phase. 

For more information please contact the INT Section Secretariat.