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.