The EU-China IPR2 Project focuses on the enforcement of IP rights, and was inaugurated in November 2007 in Beijing, by Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and Vice Minister Yu Guangzhou of China's Ministry of Commerce.

Ewa Synowiec, EC Director for Intellectual Property in DG Trade, explained that:

"China is a priority country for the European Commission for co-operation in IPR. The new IPR2 project provides an excellent opportunity to further develop an open and practical approach on IP protection, and achieve progress on the enforcement of these rights at all levels."

Building on the successful implementation of its forerunner IPR1, which ran from 1999 to 2004, IPR2 represents a substantial commitment in terms of financing technical expertise.

More than EUR16mn (EUR10.85mn from the European side) will be invested over 4 year term of the project. IPR2 is managed by the European Patent Office (EPO) who, together with its 34 member states, and in close cooperation with the EU's Trademarks and Design Office (OHIM), will ensure the pooling of the best expertise for the successful implementation of IPR2.

On the Chinese side, the implementing partner is the Ministry of Commerce, Department of Treaty and Law, which is in charge of involving the key Chinese IP agencies and enforcement authorities, such as the State Intellectual Property Office and the General Administration of Customs.

Gérard Giroud, Principal Director for European and International Affairs at the EPO, stated that:

"In this project the EPO will be able to build on its vast experience in international cooperation and technical assistance in the field of IP. The EPO and China can look back on more than 20 years of successful cooperation. For the first time, however, we can directly benefit from the practical support and input from our member states, which testifies to the singular interest of European countries in the cooperation with China on intellectual property rights."

IPR2 will target the reliability, efficiency and accessibility of the IP protection system, aiming at establishing a sustainable environment for effective IPR enforcement in China.

This is done by providing technical support to, and building the capacity of, the different levels of the Chinese legislative, judicial and administrative authorities to help improve their effectiveness; as well as improving access to information for users and officials and reinforcing support to right holders.

Meetings with stakeholders in China form an integral part of the project, and similar meetings will be scheduled in China. IPR2 starts its first year of activities at a time where IPR is gaining prominence and constructive review in Chinese public policy.