The workshop entitled “Trademark Opposition and Cancellation Examination Practices in the Context of Alignment with European Union Standards” was held on 13–14 May 2026 at the headquarters of the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI), organized with the support of the European Union Project “Strengthening Intellectual Property Rights in Armenia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine – EU4IP”.

The event brought together over 50 participants – AGEPI employees and authorized intellectual property attotneys – interested in legislative developments and European practices in the field of trademarks. The following participated as trainers: Ioana Moisescu, expert from the Operations Department of the European Union Intellectual Property Office; Elena Elvira Marin, Director of the Trademarks and Designs Directorate and Raluca Popescu, Legal Advisor, Cancellations and Revocations Service within the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks of Romania, Andreea Bende, EU4IP International Expert, Industrial Property Counselor from Romania and Rodica Popescu, EU4IP National Expert, Authorized IP Attorney from the Republic of Moldova.

Opening the event, Natalia Mogol, Deputy Director of AGEPI, emphasized that the organization of this workshop is fully in line with AGEPI’s institutional priorities for the coming period, in the context of the extensive process of harmonizing the national normative framework with European Union standards. In this regard, it was mentioned that the new Law on Trademarks No 25/2024, which transposes essential provisions of European legislation and introduces opposition and cancellation procedures in accordance with the EU acquis on trademarks, is due to enter into force on 2 April 2027.

According to Ms Natalia Mogol, this workshop offers both AGEPI specialists and authorized IP attorneys the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the best European practices on the implementation of the new institutional procedures and mechanisms. A special emphasis was placed on the process of establishing the Opposition and Cancellation Board, currently in the development stage, as well as on identifying effective models and solutions that can be adapted to the context of the Republic of Moldova.

Present at the event, representative of the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Moldova, Marcela Ianka Molnar, congratulated the Republic of Moldova and AGEPI for the progress made in the process of aligning the legislation in the field of intellectual property with the Community acquis. In her message to the participants, she highlighted that both the European Union Delegation and the European Commission appreciate the advanced level of harmonization of intellectual property legislation and the constant efforts made by the Republic of Moldova to strengthen the national intellectual property system.

During the two days, topics were addressed concerning the harmonization of Moldovan legislation with European Union standards, trademark opposition, cancellation and revocation procedures, as well as examination practices applied by the EUIPO and the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks in this area. The agenda included thematic presentations, practical exercises and case studies.

The workshop stood out for its practical and interactive nature, with participants appreciating the usefulness of constructive discussions and the valuable exchange of experience between European experts, representatives of OSIM, EUIPO and AGEPI specialists. Representatives of the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks shared both examples of best practices and results obtained, as well as the challenges encountered in the process of implementing legislative amendments and adapting to new procedures. This experience proved to be particularly relevant for the ongoing legislative harmonization process in the Republic of Moldova.

AGEPI particularly appreciates the experience and expertise shared by the experts involved in the workshop, as well as the openness and support provided in the process of consolidating new institutional practices. The examples and experiences presented represent valuable benchmarks for AGEPI at this important stage, in which the foundations of the new legislation and of the implementation and enforcement mechanisms in line with European Union standards are laid down.