EU-funded IP Cooperation Expands into the Western Balkans
14-Jun-2026
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Source : The European Commission
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Visits : 63
New EU-funded cooperation project with enlargement partners supports alignment of European Union (EU) Intellectual Property (IP) standards ahead of EU accession.
BRUSSELS - The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement and the Eastern Neighborhood and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), in partnership with the IP offices and authorities of the cooperation partners, officially launched a new IP cooperation project in the Western Balkans. The project was launched on May 20, 2026, at the EUIPO headquarters in Alicante, Spain and aims to reinforce the IP systems of project beneficiaries and accelerate their gradual integration into the EU, according to the official website of the Commission.
The new EU4IP Western Balkans (EU4IP-WB) project marks an expansion of the current EU-funded international IP cooperation activities the EUIPO implements into Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. The Republic of Moldova is also included in EU4IP-WB, exclusively within the framework of regional cooperation. EU4IP-WB is the second component under the EU4IP umbrella, in addition to the first EU4IP component launched in 2024 which covers EU-funded IP cooperation with Armenia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.
The EU4IP-WB project will run for 36 months and is co-funded by the European Commission and the EUIPO. The EUIPO, as implementing agency, will work closely with
all the stakeholders in the region and beyond, focusing in the coming months on rolling out the work plan officially endorsed during the launch event, including activities to support EU IP acquis alignment, capacity building, enforcement and raising IP awareness.
Supporting alignment with EU standards on the way to EU accession
EU4IP-WB focuses on making IP systems in the Western Balkans more accessible, efficient and aligned with EU frameworks, supporting both institutional capacity and regional cooperation. Activities will cover legal approximation, modernization of IP offices, strengthened enforcement cooperation and awareness-raising, particularly for youngster and SMEs.
Stronger and more consistent IP systems contribute to innovation, investment and fair competition. By supporting partners from outside of the EU in aligning with EU standards, the EU4IP-WB project facilitates economic integration and prepares participating partners for closer cooperation and integration with the European Union. The expansion into the Western Balkans reflects the EUIPO’s growing role in supporting enlargement partners through practical cooperation on IP, helping create predictable and transparent frameworks for businesses operating across borders.
Expanding cooperation across the globe
The expansion also builds on the ongoing EU-funded and EUIPO-implemented cooperation projects with other partners, including ASEAN (Scope IPR), CARIFORUM (CarIPI), the Republic of Korea (EU-RoK-IP Action), Japan (EU-Japan Action) and Armenia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine (EU4IP component 1). It further broadens the Office’s geographical reach, alongside the planned continuation through second project editions in Africa (AfrIPI), Latin-America (AL-INVEST) and China (EUIPP China).
Through this project and all international IP cooperation initiatives, the EUIPO contributes to a more consistent and effective global IP landscape, supporting innovation and economic development within and beyond the European Union. The projects also support the EUIPO’s Strategic Plan 2030, particularly strengthening global IP networks through IP Alliances with like-minded institutions, fostering cooperation and knowledge-sharing across an increasingly interconnected IP ecosystem.