EU to help ASEAN

EU to help ASEAN

BANGKOK (DPA): The European Union will help Southeast Asian
countries conform to World Trade Organization rules on
intellectual property rights by funding a co-operation program
with the regional body, the EU said Monday.

Under the five-million-euro (US$5.5 million) program over five
years, the EU is to assist Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) governments align their rules with the WTO's
Trade and Related Aspects of Intellectual Property rules.

European Commission Vice President Manuel Marin and Thai
Deputy Prime Minister Supachai Panichpakdi signed a memorandum of
understanding on the program Monday.

The agreement aims to achieve greater public awareness and
strengthen enforcement of intellectual property rights with
technical assistance for the police, customs and justice
authorities in member countries.

ASEAN groups Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia,
Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar, with Cambodia as an
observer nation.