EU finance ministers defend intellectual property protections

Meanwhile Commission calls for European chief epidemiologist, and biomedical groups publish R&D strategy

The Council of the EU, which brings the bloc’s national governments together to shape policy, has called for strengthened intellectual property protections, echoing calls by the health sector at a time when the European Parliament is seeking a temporary IP waiver to help combat Covid-19.

Conclusions on IP adopted by economic and finance ministers on 18 June said that IP protections have “proven to be, and should remain, a driver for innovation, competitiveness, economic growth and sustainable development”.