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The Commission was invited to set up a European observatory, based on its existing structures, to allow a regular assessment of the extent of counterfeiting and piracy. Those involved in combating these criminal activities should be provided with relevant information, especially via the Internet. The Commission was also asked to take action to raise the awareness of consumers, especially the youngest ones, of the dangers of counterfeiting and piracy, in particular by organising a European awareness day.
According to a recent OECD report, international trade in counterfeit and pirated products amounted to some 200 billion US-dollars in 2005. This figure only reflects the customs seizures made in the OECD countries. It does not include the counterfeit and pirated goods sold on domestic markets, nor the pirated digital products distributed via the Internet. If all this merchandise was included, it could well be several hundred billion dollars higher. The EU has already adopted legal instruments to combat counterfeiting and piracy, in particular Directive 2004/48/EC on the enforcement of intellectual property rights and Regulation No 1383/2003 concerning customs action against goods suspected of infringing certain intellectual property rights.
Further information:
Council press release (pdf)
Combating Alzheimer's disease
The EU member states intend to join forces to combat neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia and in particular Alzheimer's. In conclusions adopted at the Council meeting on 26 September in Brussels European research ministers stressed the need to strengthen trans-national cooperation in this field. They also called for a better co-ordination of research efforts in Europe, an increase in financial investment and stronger incentives for the mobility of researchers within the Union.
The Council emphasised the social challenges posed by the growing number of diagnosed cases, which is closely related to the rapidly aging population in Europe. Neurodegenerative diseases are likely to impose an increasingly heavy burden on healthcare systems in the future. That is why it is necessary to support research activities aimed at better understanding, preventing and combating the mechanisms which trigger these diseases. For this purpose, ministers advocated the establishment of national prevention strategies as well as the launch of a European initiative aimed at maintaining researchers in the EU and at training a sufficient number of new specialists.
Currently, around 5,5 million people living in the 27 member states suffer from dementia. Up to
70 % of them are Alzheimer's patients. According to some recent estimations, the number of people with dementia in Europe could double by 2040. The EU already supports several initiatives aimed at pooling national research efforts in the field of neurodegenerative diseases, such as the networks established under the European Research Area focusing on aging research (ERA-Age) and on neurological diseases (NEURON) or the Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) Joint Programme undertaken by 20 member and three associated states. The French presidency will be hosting a conference on Alzheimer's disease and other degenerative illnesses on 30 and 31 October in Paris (see Presidency Website).
Forthcoming events:
Agriculture and Fisheries Council, 29 and 30 September in Luxembourg
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, 2 October in Luxembourg
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