Geographical Indications Conference 2025

1. 28 Jan 2025, 08:00 - 09:00 (CET)

   Registration and welcome coffee
2. 09:00 - 09:30 (CET)

   Opening Ceremony

   Speakers: 

   • João Negrão, Executive Director, EUIPO; 
   • Christophe Hansen, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, European Commission; 
   • Kerstin Jorna, Director-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, European Commission; 
   • Marion Walsmann, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Legal Affairs in the European Parliament and former rapporteur on CIGIs; 
   • Monika Krzepkowska, Ambassador of Poland in Spain.
3. 09:30 - 14:15 (CET)

   The Importance of Geographical Indications

   This session will address the importance of craft GIs for employment, commerce and tourism in the regions and the challenges thereof, as well as the main changes and opportunities regarding the recent reform of the GI system for wines, spirit drinks and agricultural products.

   09:30 - 09:50 Keynote speakers

   • Marion Walsmann, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Legal Affairs in the European Parliament and former rapporteur on CIGIs;
   • Martine Pinville, Alternate in the Committee of Regions and former rapporteur on CIGIs

   09:50 - 11:15 Panel I: The importance of craft GIs – opportunities and challenges

   Panel leader: 

   • Pilar Montero, IP Professor, Director of the Master in Intellectual Property and Digital Innovation, Magister Lvcentinvs, Universidad de Alicante

   Speakers: 

   • Claudia Martínez Félix, Deputy Head of Unit (Intangible Economy), DG GROW, European Commission; 
   • Audrey Aubard, General Secretary, Fédération Française des Indications Géographiques Industrielles et Artisanales; 
   • Kieran Molloy, Director, Molloy & Sons Weaving Limited, Donegal Tweed; 
   • Arnaud Lellinger, Secretary of European Communities Trade Mark Association Geographical Indications Committee; 
   • Margarida Matias, Member of the Board, Portuguese Institute of Industrial Property; 
   • Amedeo Teti, Head of Department for Markets and Consumer Protection, Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy; 
   • Ester Olivas, General Director of Entrepreneurship and Internationalization, Ministry of Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism, the Government of Valencia Region.

   11:15 - 11:30 Q & A

   11:30 - 12:00 Coffee break

   12:00 - 13:00 Panel II: Agri GI reform

   Panel leader: 

   • Ignacio Sánchez Recarte, Secretary General, Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins 

   Speakers: 

   • Paolo De Castro, former European Parliament rapporteur on agri GIs; 
   • Karine Gloanec Maurin, former Rapporteur on agri GIs and Member of the European Committee of the Regions; 
   • Diego Canga Fano, Acting Deputy Director General, DG AGRI, European Commission; 
   • Riccardo Deserti, Director General, Consorzio Parmigiano Reggiano; 
   • Javier Maté Caballero, Deputy Director General of Food Quality Control and Agri-food Laboratories at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food of Spain.

   13:00 - 14:15 Lunch break

4. 14:30 - 18:00 (CET)

   Lifecycle and Sustainability

   This session will cover the practical aspects of managing of GIs during their lifecycle: how to control a product specification (the role of the certification/accreditation in the control), legal protection (nature, scope), ways of working in a trade association (representativity), promotion and third-country GIs. The session will touch on the role of GIs in sustainability.

   14:30 - 16:00 Panel III: Lifecycle of craft and agri GIs

   Panel leader: 

   • Andrea Zappalaglio, Associate Professor in Intellectual Property Law, School of Law, University of Leeds 

   Speakers: 

   • Laurence Besse, Secretary General, Association for the Limoges Porcelain GI; 
   • David Pastva, Director of Crystal Valley project, Regional Development Agency of the Czech Republic; 
   • Andru Sandu-Capră, Attorney, Romanian Association of Producers of Salam de Sibiu; 
   • Antoine Ginestet, Craft GI Policy Officer, French Patent and Trademark Office; 
   • Tamás Kiraly, Policy Officer, DG GROW, European Commission; Céline Keidel, Deputy Head of Unit, DG AGRI, European Commission

   16:00 - 16:15 Q &A

   16:15 - 16:45 Coffee break

   16:45 - 17:45 Panel IV: GIs and Sustainability

   Panel leader: 

   • Massimo Vittori, Managing Director, oriGIn 

   Speakers: 

   • Armelle Mazé, Senior Researcher, France’s National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment; 
   • Cristina Mendes, Deputy Director, CEARTE (Crafts Professional Training Center); 
   • Ulrich Adam, Director General, spiritsEUROPE; 
   • Laura Miguel Baumann, Secretary General, European Crafts Alliance; 
   • Ronald Brohm, Managing Director of REACT (European Anti-Counterfeiting Network)

   17:45 - 18:00 Q & A

5. 18:00 (CET)

   Closing of Day 1
6. 20:00 - 22:30 (CET)

   Gala Reception
7. 29 Jan 2025, 08:30 - 09:00 (CET)

   Welcome coffee
8. 09:00 - 12:45 (CET)

   Agricultural and Craft GIs

   09:00 - 10:30 Panel V: Trade marks, GIs and GI enforcement

   Panel leader: 

   • Agris Batalauskis, Director, Patent Office of the Republic of Latvia 

   Speakers: 

   • Giuseppe Bertoli, Director of Legal Affairs Department, EUIPO; 
   • Charles Goemaere, Director General, Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin Champagne; 
   • Christopher Oldknow, Public Policy, EMEA, Amazon; 
   • Valérie Marie d’Avigneau, Legal and Policy Officer, DG GROW, European Commission; 
   • Blanca Arteche, Observatory Department, EUIPO; 
   • Felice Assenza, Head of Department of the Central Inspectorate for Quality Protection and Fraud Repression of Agri-Food Products, Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, Italy; 
   • Aitor Pomares, Legal Advisor, origen España

   10:30 - 10:45 Q & A

   10:45 - 11:15 Coffee break

   11:15 - 12:30 Panel VI: Significance of GIs Worldwide

   Panel leader: 

   • Alexandra Grazioli, Director, World Intellectual Property Organization 

   Speakers: 

   • Mark Kent, Scotch Whisky Association; 
   • Virginia Melgar, Chairperson, fifth Board of Appeal, EUIPO; 
   • Michel Gonomy, Head of Geographical Indications, Industrial Designs and Other Distinctive Signs, Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle; 
   • Elisa Rodríguez Ortiz, Director, Spanish Patent and Trademark Office; 
   • Antonio Berengue Reguant, Deputy Director, International Cooperation Area, EUIPO; 
   • Rocío Pérez Segura, Policy Officer, DG TRADE, European Commission

   12:30 - 12:45 Q & A

9. 12:45 - 13:00 (CET)

   Conclusions and Closure

   Closing remarks

   • João Negrão, Executive Director, EUIPO
10. 13:00 - 14:00 (CET)

    Lunch
11. Show 5 more items
12. 13:00 - 14:00 (CET)

    Social programme

Practical information