Compte rendu ‒ Conseil des ADPIC ‒ Afficher les détails de l'intervention/la déclaration

Ambassador Mothusi Palai (Botswana)
Union européenne
11 TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND CAPACITY-BUILDING
397. We note that a lot of the comments and discussions we have had here focus on the format and on how the information must be presented. That is very important, particularly in terms of accessibility of this information to third parties. And we are well aware that it is difficult for third parties to access this information and to produce studies that actually reflect the truth and fairly depict the contribution of some Members. In that sense it is very important that information is more accessible. What is missing in this debate and what we would like to have also in future discussions is the feedback or discussion on how these programmes are relevant or how they are not working for the recipient countries. I think that has nothing to do with the format. 398. Yesterday I mentioned a couple of programmes and this is just giving an example. I mentioned a programme where there is work done with Bangladesh to see the impact of waters and the tides in their territory. We would certainly like to hear from the recipient countries concerning their experiences. And for this one does not need a different formatting. It is a programme that is there. I am sure that Bangladesh is very aware that it exists. It would be appreciated if one day we could have a brief discussion about how this works. 399. We mentioned another programme for the treatment of malaria in pregnancies in African countries. Again, we would be interested to know. These programmes related to malaria are examples of how one can promote access to health with something that does not necessarily involve pharmaceutical patents. There are many things that can be done in the area of malaria, prevention etc. that do not involve pharmaceutical patents. We would like to know if these have a positive impact or not. 400. This is the reason why in my recent interventions I have been focussing so much on the details. I think we would very much like to know and to talk about the concrete programmes and maybe a bit less about Excel tables.
The Council took note of the statements made and agreed to revert to the matter at its next meeting.
11.1. The Chairman recalled that the Council had agreed, at its meeting in June 2014, to hold its annual review of technical cooperation at this meeting. He suggested that, in this context, Members also discuss any other issues relating to this agenda item.

11.2. He said that, in preparation for this annual review, developed country Members had been once more requested to update information on their technical and financial cooperation activities relevant to the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement in time for this meeting. Other Members who also made available technical cooperation had been encouraged to share information on these activities if they so wished. The Secretariat had issued on 24 July 2014 an airgram (WTO/AIR/4337) reminding Members of this request. In addition, intergovernmental organizations observers to the Council as well as the WTO Secretariat had also been invited to provide information.

11.3. To date, the Council had received information from the following developed country Members: Australia; Japan; New Zealand; Canada; Switzerland; Norway; as well as the United States. The resulting documentation concerning the technical cooperation activities of developed country Members was circulated in document IP/C/W/601 and addenda. The report submitted by the European Union and individual member States, namely Austria; Bulgaria; the Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Hungary; the Netherlands; Portugal; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden and the United Kingdom had been made available as a room document on documents online and would also be circulated as an addendum to document IP/C/W/601.

11.4. So far the Council had received updated information from the following intergovernmental organizations: the WCO, WHO, FAO; UPOV; WIPO; UNCTAD; as well as the GCC, which had been circulated in document IP/C/W/603 and addenda. Updated information on the WTO Secretariat's own technical cooperation activities in the TRIPS area had been made available in document IP/C/W/600. These reports provided very valuable information both as regards details of specific activities, but also the broader policy considerations that were guiding capacity building activities of individual Members and Observers. Much of this resource remained largely untapped due to the amount of information provided and the way of preparation. In order to promote awareness and transparency, the Secretariat had repeatedly suggested that the information about specific activities be reported in table format. It had also provided regular updates with respect to its work aimed at identifying ways of facilitating the submission, processing and circulation of information on technical assistance.

11.5. The representative of the WTO Secretariat informed the Council of its recent technical cooperation activities, including the Workshop on "Realizing Developmental Objectives of the Intellectual Property System: LDC Needs for Technical and Financial Cooperation" that had been organized back-to-back with the last Council meeting on 12-13 June 2014. Also the representative of the UNCTAD Secretariat introduced its report.

11.6. The representatives of Bangladesh; the European Union and Bangladesh, on behalf of the LDC Group took the floor.

11.7. The Chairman said that some of the information had been received very recently, and most of it was, so far, available only in its original language. Therefore, he suggested that an opportunity be provided to Members at the Council's next meeting to make further comments on the information submitted for this meeting.

11.8. The Council took note of the statements made and agreed to revert to the matter at its next meeting.

IP/C/M/77, IP/C/M/77/Add.1