As part of its mandate to support the Kosovo Customs Service, EULEX’s Strengthening Division has organised a one day Workshop on 25 November, 2015 in Pristina. A public awareness campaign was also launched during the workshop to highlight the risk of health and safety hazards when buying counterfeit goods.

Peter Carson, EULEX Customs Procedures and Post Clearance Audit Advisor, stressed the importance of today’s workshop and awareness campaign: “Reducing the risk of health and safety hazards when buying counterfeit goods is very important. Not only is it in the interest of public health, it also has consequences for Kosovo’s economic development. Therefore, protecting patents, trademarks, and industrial designs via copyright and raising public awareness of health hazards are amongst the key priority matters for Kosovo and EULEX.”

“The Kosovo Customs has, to date, confiscated goods worth over eight million Euros due to violation of intellectual property rights (IPR). The Progress Report has identified that Customs and other responsible institutions should do more in the area of IPR, therefore, Customs, in cooperation with EULEX, has organized todays’ workshop with the purpose of drafting a work plan and enable coordination among all institutions in the fight against this feature,” said Lulzim Rafuna Director of Kosovo Customs.  

EULEX will continue co-ordination with Kosovo Customs to achieve and implement European best practices.