Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-000400/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Dimitris Tsiodras (PPE)
In 2023, 152 million counterfeit items were seized at the EU’s external borders and in the internal market[1], with an estimated value of EUR 3.4 billion. They range from widely-used consumer goods, such as machinery, chemicals, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products, to items of high commercial value. Many are of low quality and pose a significant threat to health and safety, while creating conditions of unfair competition for European producers, as their importers do not adhere to the applicable legislative framework. According to the European Commission itself, the practice of shipping packaging material separately from the actual unbranded item and assembling them within the EU has been observed, in an attempt to avoid detection by the competent authorities.
In light of the above,
- 1.How does the Commission intend to tackle these imports of counterfeit goods while ensuring a level playing field for European businesses?
- 2.What have been the outcomes of implementing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the sale of counterfeit goods on the internet and how does the Commission intend to enforce existing legislation on the protection of intellectual property rights?
Submitted: 29.1.2025
- [1] European Commission-EUIPO, EU enforcement of intellectual property rights: results at the EU border and in the EU internal market 2023