Chairman,

The EU and its Member States would like to express their continued support for the implementation of the Development Agenda Recommendations. The recent report from the Director-General on this matter illustrates that since the adoption of the Development Agenda Recommendations many projects a full range of activities have been initiated, and that the Development Agenda has truly become an integral part of WIPOs activities. We welcome the efforts made by the DG and his staff to achieve the goals as set out by the Member States of WIPO, and would like to thank the WIPO Secretariat for its valuable contribution to the work of the Committee.

Robust and balanced IP infrastructures underpinned by adequate capacity building measures and coupled with a development-oriented IP culture, can contribute significantly to the attainment of development goals. The activities of the CDIP enhance global ownership of intellectual property, as has been demonstrated by several projects which have been carried out.

It is essential that the importance and relevance of Intellectual Property is included in key international initiatives, as a tool in economic, social and cultural development by encouraging domestic innovation and creativity, investment and technology transfer and the promotion of production models oriented towards sustainable development. We therefore highly value the involvement of the WIPO Secretariat in the UN inter-agency task team on science, technology and innovation for the sustainable development goals; the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism; and the World Summit on Information Society.

The EU and its Member States continue to be committed to further progress in this field in order to implement the recommendations of the Development Agenda in an appropriate, and consensus-driven, manner.

Thank you