Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

**Council of the**
**European Union**

**Interinstitutional File:**

**2021/0098(NLE)**

**PROPOSAL**

**Brussels, 13 April 2021**
**(OR. en)**

**7808/21**

**WTO 101**

From: Secretary-General of the European Commission, signed by Ms Martine
DEPREZ, Director

date of receipt: 13 April 2021

To: Mr Jeppe TRANHOLM-MIKKELSEN, Secretary-General of the Council
of the European Union

No. Cion doc.: COM(2021) 183 final

Subject: Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the position to be taken on
behalf of the European Union in the Council for Trade-Related Aspects
of Intellectual Property Rights of the World Trade Organisation

Delegations will find attached document COM(2021) 183 final.

Encl.: COM(2021) 183 final

7808/21 BK/sy
## RELEX.1.A EN

EUROPEAN

COMMISSION

Brussels, 13.4.2021
COM(2021) 183 final

2021/0098 (NLE)

Proposal for a

**COUNCIL DECISION**

**on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Council for Trade-**

**Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights of the World Trade Organisation**

# **EN EN**

**EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM**

**1.** **S** **UBJECT MATTER OF THE PROPOSAL**

This proposal concerns the decision establishing the position to be taken on the Union's behalf
in the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights of the World Trade
Organisation (‘TRIPS Council’) in connection with the envisaged adoption of a decision
concerning the request for an extension of the transitional period under Article 66(1) of the
TRIPS Agreement for Least Developed Country Members.

**2.** **C** **ONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL**

**2.1.** **The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights**

The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (‘the TRIPS
Agreement’) aims, among others, to provide adequate standards and principles concerning the
availability, scope and use of trade-related intellectual property rights, effective and
appropriate means for their enforcement and effective and expeditious procedures for the
multilateral prevention and settlement of disputes between governments. The TRIPS
Agreement covers the following intellectual property rights: copyright and related rights,
trademarks, geographical indications, including appellations of origin, industrial designs,
patents, including the protection of new varieties of plants, layout-designs of integrated
circuits and undisclosed information. The TRIPS Agreement entered into force on 1 January
1995.

The European Union is a party to the TRIPS Agreement. [1]

**2.2.** **The TRIPS Council**

The TRIPS Council oversees the functioning of the TRIPS Agreement. In its regular sessions,
the TRIPS Council serves as a forum for discussion on the trade-related aspects of the
protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights covered by the TRIPS Agreement.
The TRIPS Council operates under the general guidance of the General Council of the
WTO. It is open to all WTO Members and to the observers approved by Members. The
TRIPS Council takes decisions by consensus. Pursuant to Rule 33 of the rules of procedure of
the TRIPS Council [2], where a decision cannot be arrived at by consensus in the TRIPS
Council, the matter at issue shall be referred to the General Council for decision. Pursuant to
Article IX of the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation (‘the
Marrakesh Agreement’) where the European Union exercises the right to vote it has a number
of votes equal to that of the Member States which are Members of the WTO.

**2.3.** **The envisaged act of the TRIPS Council**

On 8-9 June 2021, during its formal session, the TRIPS Council is to adopt a decision
regarding the request for an extension of the transitional period under TRIPS Article 66(1) for
Least Developed Country (LDC) Members as of 1 July 2021 (‘the envisaged act’).

From the entry into force on 1 January 1995 of the Marrakesh Agreement, LDC Members
were exempted from TRIPS obligations except Article 3, 4 and 5 for a period of ten years
under Article 66(1) of the TRIPS Agreement. This Article also provides for the possibility of
further extensions of this period upon a duly motivated request by a least-developed country

1 Council Decision 94/800/EC (of 22 December 1994) concerning the conclusion on behalf of the
European Community, as regards matters within its competence, of the agreements reached in the
Uruguay Round multilateral negotiations (1986-1994) (OJ L 336, 23.12.1994, p. 1).
2 Rules of procedure for meetings of the Council for TRIPS (28 September 1995) - IP/C/1.

# EN 1 EN

member. In 2005 and 2013, following specific requests from LDC Members, this exemption
was extended already twice, the second time until 1 July 2021.

Chad, on behalf of the LDC group, formally submitted a request [3] on 1 October 2020 for an
extension of the transitional period. The LDC group has asked for an extension of the
transitional period for ”as long as the Member remains in the category of least developed
country and for a period of twelve years from the date of entry into force of a decision by the
UN General Assembly to exclude the Member from the least developed country category."

The envisaged act will become binding on the parties in accordance with Article 66(1) of the

                                                              TRIPS Agreement, which provides: “In view of the special needs and requirements of least
developed country Members, their economic, financial and administrative constraints, and
their need for flexibility to create a viable technological base, such Members shall not be
required to apply the provisions of this Agreement, other than Articles 3, 4 and 5, for a period
of 10 years from the date of application as defined under paragraph 1 of Article 65. The
Council for TRIPS shall, upon duly motivated request by a least-developed country Member,
accord extensions of this period”.

**3.** **P** **OSITION TO BE TAKEN ON THE** **U** **NION** **'** **S BEHALF**

As a response to the LDC Members’ request, the Commission recommends the Council of the
European Union to establish the following Union position: LDC Members should not be
required to apply the provisions of the TRIPS Agreement, other than Articles 3, 4 and 5, for a
limited period of time not exceeding 10 years, or until such a date, on which they cease to be a
LDC, whichever date is earlier.

However, an extension of the transitional period without time limit, as proposed by the LDCs,
would not be consistent with the objective to gradually integrate LDC Members, as members
of the multilateral trading system, in the international IP system on the basis of the minimum
requirements provided in the TRIPS Agreement.

Should Members of the WTO support the extension of the transitional period under Article
66(1) of the TRIPS Agreement without a time limit, the Union should not stand in the way of
reaching a consensus.

A certain level of IPR protection and enforcement is needed also in LDC Members, because
IPRs are a catalyst for innovation and an important tool for sustainable development. IPR
protection and enforcement also constitute an incentive for technology holders’ to promote
the diffusion of knowledge and attract inward investment to LDC Members. A certain level of
protection and enforcement of IPR in LDC Members also serves as an incentive for EU
companies to bring their new technologies to LDC Members without fearing IP theft or other
abuses. An extension of the transitional period without time limit would not be encouraging
enough for LDC Members to make efforts in this area and could be counter-productive for
their competitiveness in the world trading system. However, another extension of the
transitional period for the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement, other than Articles 3, 4
and 5, is justified. LDC Members represent the most vulnerable segment of the international
trade community, characterised by constraints such as low per capita income, low level of
human development, and economic and structural handicaps to growth. The COVID-19
pandemic has further increased the challenges that LDC Members face. Therefore, LDC
Members need to have policy space and flexibility to address their development challenges
and to create a viable technological base.

3 WTO Document IP/C/W/668.

# EN 2 EN

It is also important to strive to provide that any changes in LDC Members’ laws, regulations
and practice made during the additional transitional period cannot result in a lesser degree of
consistency with the provisions of the TRIPS Agreement. This requirement would incentivise
LDC Members to gradually implement certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement and
prevent lowering the level of protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights. LDC
Members’ efforts to implement certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement would be taken
into account when deciding on the beneficiaries of the technical and financial cooperation
provided under Article 67 of the TRIPS Agreement to facilitate the implementation of the
TRIPS Agreement focusing on those areas of most immediate utility.

The second part of the LDC Members’ request, i.e. the request for an additional period of
twelve years exemption from the date a least-developed country Member graduates from the
least developed country category appears to go beyond the scope of Article 66(1) of the
TRIPS Agreement, as this Article only applies to the extension of the transitional period for
the implementation of certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement by LDC Members. The
request would appear to amount to an exemption from the relevant provisions of the TRIPS
Agreement, which cannot be decided by the TRIPS Council. Therefore, the request to grant an
exemption for non-LDCs as part of a TRIPS Council decision under Article 66(1) of the
TRIPS Agreement cannot be supported.

It should be noted that the request for an additional period of twelve years exemption from the
date a least-developed country Member graduates from the least developed country category
is included also in the communication [4] on smooth transition in favour of countries graduating
from the LDC category submitted by the mission of Chad on behalf of the LDC group on 17
November 2020 to the General Council and is under discussion in the General Council.

The initiative is fully consistent with EU policies. Similar decisions have been adopted
previously. The European Union supported extending the transitional period, agreed by WTO
Members on 11 June 2013, for LDC Members not to apply the TRIPS Agreement, other than
Articles 3, 4 and 5, until 1 July 2021 [5] .

LDC Members have been also granted a specific waiver regarding the implementation of the
TRIPS Agreement provisions on pharmaceuticals. This waiver was initially due to expire on 1
January 2016 based on the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health
adopted on 14 November 2001. In 2015, Bangladesh, on behalf of the LDC group, requested a
waiver of the TRIPS Agreement obligations with respect to pharmaceutical products for LDC
Members for as long as they remain LDCs. The EU supported this request of the LDC group
in view of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health and the decision
of the WTO General Council of 30 August 2003 on implementation of paragraph 6 of the
Doha Declaration. Eventually the waiver was extended until 1 January 2033 or until such a
date on which an LDC Member ceases to be an LDC, whichever date is earlier.

The EU’s position on the envisaged act is fully consistent with the EU’s position regarding
the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement provisions on pharmaceuticals.

**4.** **P** **ROCEDURAL LEGAL BASIS**

**4.1.** **Principles**

Article 218(9) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) provides for
decisions establishing ‘the positions to be adopted on the Union’s behalf in a body set up by

4 WT/GC/W/807.
5 WTO document IP/C/64.

# EN 3 EN

an agreement, when that body is called upon to adopt acts having legal effects, with the
exception of acts supplementing or amending the institutional framework of the agreement.’

The concept of ‘acts having legal effects’ includes acts that have legal effects by virtue of the
rules of international law governing the body in question. It also includes instruments that do
not have a binding effect under international law, but that are ‘capable of decisively
influencing the content of the legislation adopted by the EU legislature’ [6] .

**4.2.** **Application to the present case**

The TRIPS Council is a body set up by the Marrakesh Agreement and its Annex 1C on the
TRIPS Agreement.

The act, which the TRIPS Council is called upon to adopt, constitutes an act having legal
effects. The envisaged act will be binding under international law in accordance with Article
66(1) of the TRIPS Agreement.

The envisaged act does not supplement or amend the institutional framework of the
Agreement.

Therefore, the procedural legal basis for the proposed decision is Article 218(9) TFEU.

**4.3.** **Substantive legal basis**

_4.3.1._ _Principles_

The substantive legal basis for a decision under Article 218(9) TFEU depends primarily on
the objective and content of the envisaged act in respect of which a position is taken on the
Union's behalf. If the envisaged act pursues two aims or has two components and if one of
those aims or components is identifiable as the main one, whereas the other is merely
incidental, the decision under Article 218(9) TFEU must be founded on a single substantive
legal basis, namely that required by the main or predominant aim or component.

_4.3.2._ _Application to the present case_

The main objective and content of the envisaged act relate to the common commercial policy.
Therefore, the substantive legal basis of the proposed decision is Article 207(4) TFEU.

**4.4.** **Conclusion**

The legal basis of the proposed decision should be Article 207(4) TFEU, first subparagraph,
in conjunction with Article 218(9) TFEU.

6 Judgment of the Court of Justice of 7 October 2014, Germany v Council, C-399/12,
ECLI:EU:C:2014:2258, paragraphs 61 to 64.

# EN 4 EN

2021/0098 (NLE)

Proposal for a

**COUNCIL DECISION**

**on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Council for Trade-**

**Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights of the World Trade Organisation**

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular
Article 207(4), first subparagraph, in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization, and also the Agreements
in Annexes 1, 2 and 3 to that Agreement (‘the Marrakesh Agreement’) was concluded
by the Union by Council Decision 94/800/EC [1] and entered into force on 1 January
1995.

(2) Pursuant to Article 66(1) of the Agreement on the Trade-Related Aspects of
Intellectual Property Rights (‘the TRIPS Agreement’), included in Annex 1C to the
Marrakesh Agreement, the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property
Rights of the World Trade Organisation (‘the TRIPS Council’) is to, upon duly
motivated request by a least-developed country (LDC) Member, accord extensions of
the transitional period during which LDC Members are not required to apply the
provisions of the TRIPS Agreement, other than Articles 3, 4 and 5.

(3) The existing transitional period, as agreed in the Decision of the TRIPS Council of 11
June 2013 [2] is due to expire on 1 July 2021.

(4) On 1 October 2020, Chad, on behalf of the LDC group, formally submitted a request
for an extension of the transitional period [3] .

(5) The TRIPS Council, during its formal session on 8 and 9 June 2021, is to adopt a
decision regarding the request for an extension of the transitional period under Article
66(1) of the TRIPS Agreement for LDC Members (‘the TRIPS Council’s Decision’).

(6) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union's behalf in the
TRIPS Council, as the TRIPS Council’s Decision will be binding on the Union.

(7) LDC Members represent the most vulnerable segment of the international trade
community, facing economic, financial and administrative constraints. LDC Members
need to have policy space and flexibility to address their development challenges and
further time to implement the TRIPS Agreement.

1 Council Decision 94/800/EC of 22 December 1994 concerning the conclusion on behalf of the
European Community, as regards matters within its competence, of the agreements reached in the
Uruguay Round multilateral negotiations (1986-1994) (OJ L 336, 23.12.1994, p. 1).
2 IP/C/64.
3 WTO Document IP/C/W/668.

# EN 5 EN

(8) A certain level of intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and enforcement is
beneficial to LDC Members, because IPRs are a catalyst for innovation and an
important tool for sustainable development. Some LDC Members have already taken
steps towards implementation of the TRIPS Agreement and need to be encouraged not
to decrease the existing level of IPR protection and enforcement.

(9) An extension of the transitional period without a time limit, as proposed by the LDC
group, would slow down the process of gradually integrating LDC Members, as
members of the multilateral trading system, in the international IP system on the basis
of the minimum requirements provided in the TRIPS Agreement.

(10) Accordingly, it is appropriate to extend the transitional period for the implementation
of the TRIPS Agreement, other than Articles 3, 4 and 5, for LDC Members for a
limited period of time not exceeding ten years.

(11) Should Members of the World Trade Organisation support the extension of the
transitional period under Article 66(1) of the TRIPS Agreement for a longer period or
without a time limit, the Union should not stand in the way of reaching a consensus.

(12) The LDCs’ request for an additional period of twelve years exemption calculated from
the date an LDC Member graduates from the LDC category appears to go beyond the
scope of Article 66(1) of the TRIPS Agreement, as this Article only applies to the
extension of the transitional period for the implementation of certain provisions of the
TRIPS Agreement by LDC Members. Therefore, the request to grant an exemption for
non-LDC Members as part of a TRIPS Council’s Decision under Article 66(1) of the
TRIPS Agreement should not be supported,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

_Article 1_

The position to be taken on the Union's behalf in the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of
Intellectual Property Rights of the World Trade Organisation (‘the TRIPS Council’), during
its formal session on 8 and 9 June 2021, shall be as follows:

(a) LDC Members should not be required to apply the provisions of the Agreement on
the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (‘the TRIPS Agreement’)
other than Articles 3, 4 and 5, for a limited period of time not exceeding ten years, or
until such a date on which they cease to be an LDC Member, whichever date is
earlier.

(b) Should Members of the World Trade Organisation support the extension of the
transitional period under Article 66(1) of the TRIPS Agreement for a longer period
or without a time limit, the Union should not stand in the way of reaching a

consensus.

(c) LDC Members should ensure that any changes in their laws, regulations and practice
made during the additional transitional period do not result in a lesser degree of
consistency with the provisions of the TRIPS Agreement. However, should Members
of the World Trade Organisation not support such an obligation of the LDC
Members, the Union should not stand in the way of reaching a consensus.

(d) The LDC Members’ request for an additional period of twelve years exemption
calculated from the date an LDC Member graduates from the LDC category should
not be supported, as falling outside the scope of Article 66(1) of the TRIPS
Agreement.

# EN 6 EN

_Article 2_

This Decision is addressed to the Commission.

Done at Brussels,

_For the Council_

_The President_

# EN 7 EN