23. The representative of Romania said that her delegation endorsed the EC's contribution, which would provide the necessary instruments to prevent geographical indications from being unfairly used in the future. It was clear that the system envisaged would not replace national ones. It would facilitate access to protection without creating obligations with respect to the level of substantive protection; only procedural obligations to facilitate access of producers to existing protection would be entailed. For the delegation of Romania, it was each Member's duty to pursue negotiations constructively and complete the negotiations by the Fifth Ministerial Conference.
