The EU welcomes the legal reforms introduced by Qatar on 30 August ending the requirement for migrant workers to obtain their employer’s permission to change jobs, while also adopting a non-discriminatory minimum wage.

Once these reforms enter into force, Qatar will become the first country in the Gulf region to dismantle the kefala (“sponsorship”) system governing the employment of migrant workers, which gives employers excessive control over them.

The EU strongly supports these labour legislation reform efforts, which it has long advocated and discussed with Qatar, especially in the informal Human Rights Dialogue.

We also commend the International Labour Organisation for its supportive and crucial role accompanying the Qatari government on its labour law reform agenda. The EU looks forward to the swift implementation of Law No. 18/2020 and further improvements of the legal framework covering workers’ rights in Qatar.

The analysis outlined on this page represents the view of the CPVO in relation to the scope of protection extended from the parental lines to the hybrids and the potential use of such hybrid for the breeding of other varieties in relation to the breeders’ exemption.

The following question has been analysed by the CPVO: Can holder 1 of varieties A and B prevent breeder 2 from the repeated use of a single hybrid H in the breeding of a new 3 -way hybrid variety Z?

Production scheme of single hybrid and 3-way hybrid

A x B    Parent lines

  H        Single hybrid

H x C    Parent lines

           Z        3-way-hybrid

To evaluate the situation, the following Articles of COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2100/94 of 27 July 1994 on Community plant variety rights (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Basic Regulation’) must be taken into account:

Article 13: Rights of the holder of a Community plant variety right and prohibited acts

1. A Community plant variety right shall have the effect that the holder or holders of the Community plant variety right, hereinafter referred to as ‘the holder’, shall be entitled to effect the acts set out in paragraph 2.

2. Without prejudice to the provisions of Articles 15 and 16, the following acts in respect of variety constituents, or harvested material of the protected variety, both referred to hereinafter as ‘material’, shall require the authorization of the holder:

(a) production or reproduction (multiplication);

(b) conditioning for the purpose of propagation;

(c) offering for sale;

(d) selling or other marketing;

(e) exporting from the Community;

(f) importing to the Community;

(g) stocking for any of the purposes mentioned in (a) to (f).

The holder may make his authorization subject to conditions and limitations.

5. The provisions of paragraphs 1 to 4 shall also apply in relation to:

 (c) varieties whose production requires the repeated use of the protected variety.

Article 15: Limitation of the effects of Community plant variety rights

The Community plant variety rights shall not extend to:

 (c) acts done for the purpose of breeding, or discovering and developing other varieties;

Analysis

According to Art. 15. c) of the Basic Regulation the effects of CPVR are limited in the case of “acts done for the purpose of breeding or discovering and developing other varieties”. The so called breeder’s exemption allows thus free access to protected varieties for the development therefrom and exploitation of new varieties. In this respect, the Basic Regulation does not impose any limitation in the application of this exception to hybrids. Indeed, under the breeder’s exemption any variety can be used to breed and develop another variety. The fact that one of the parent varieties to the  variety Z is a hybrid itself does not limit the applicability of the breeder’s exemption. The above scheme shows that breeder 2 uses the hybrid H to make a  new 3-way hybrid Z. Therefore it is a different variety bred and developed under the breeder’s exemption. It could be concluded, then, that the protection  of a hybrid would not prevent the use of said hybrid for the creation of a new variety by a third party.

Does it make a difference if the single hybrid H is protected through the protection of its parental lines or if it is protected in its own right?

In the opinion of the CPVO Article 15(c) of the Basic Regulation (the breeder’s exemption) applies equally regardless of whether H is protected through its parent lines or if it enjoys protection in its own right.  However, it should be noted that variety H cannot be multiplied without the authorization of holder 1 pursuant to Article 13(2)(a) of the Basic Regulation.

Disclaimer: The scope of protection is determined by national courts, and in the end, by the Court of Justice of the EU. The opinion of the CPVO is not binding on courts and it is up to each market player to assess what action s/he deems appropriate to take.

The peace agreement initialled today between the civilian-led Transitional Government of Sudan and the Sudan Revolutionary Front signifies an important milestone for the ongoing democratic and economic transition of Sudan.

Mediated with the help of neighbouring South Sudan, the agreement paves the way towards the establishment of a lasting peace in Sudan.

Only an agreement implemented in good faith and in the spirit of cooperation can live up to the needs and expectations of the Sudanese people for a better life in peace and stability.

On this occasion, the EU calls upon Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North-Abdalaziz Al-Hilu and the Sudan Liberation Movement-Abdul Wahid Al-Nur to join the peace efforts for the benefit of the local communities who deserve to benefit from the changes underway in Sudan. This is the time for all Sudanese stakeholders to set aside their differences and to look for the greater good of the country and of all Sudanese.

The EU remains committed to supporting the historic Sudanese transition.

• Emergency release of initial €100 million tranche of a €200 million package to support Morocco in its fight against the COVID-19 crisis
• First EIB financing for the EU’s Mediterranean neighbourhood to assist national authorities in their struggle against the pandemic

On 31 August 2020, Mohamed Benchaaboun, the Moroccan Minister of Economy, Finance and Administration Reform, and Emma Navarro, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), announced the release of €100 million to finance the Kingdom of Morocco’s most urgent requirements as it deals with the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the first payment of an overall financing package worth €200 million.

The Minister of Economy, Finance and Administration Reform emphasised the importance of these funds in enabling Morocco to procure urgently needed medical supplies and equipment. The financing will strengthen the country’s health facilities and boost hospital capacity, allowing it to fight against the pandemic more effectively. This achievement is a tangible sign of the calibre of the partnership between Morocco and the EIB, the EU bank.

The EIB Vice-President was delighted that these funds were released in record time. For her, acting rapidly is crucial in limiting the pandemic’s impact on the population’s health. The EIB is continuing to draw on its expertise, resources and skills to provide concrete solutions to the challenges posed by COVID-19.

This €100 million payment is the first time the EIB has allocated funding to the EU’s Mediterranean neighbourhood for the purpose of fighting against COVID-19. More specifically, it forms part of the EIB’s support for the Moroccan national plan to combat COVID-19 and also chimes with Team Europe, an EU initiative to help partner countries, particularly those outside Europe, in fighting the coronavirus pandemic and dealing with its consequences. This financing therefore dovetails with the EU’s overall action in Morocco’s health sector, supplementing the €100 million aid programme to fund healthcare needs during the pandemic and support the Ministry of Health’s reform initiative.

As a key partner to Morocco for over 40 years, the EIB is very attentive to the population’s needs, and is pursuing its efforts to improve their daily lives while boosting the country’s economic development. Since 2007, Morocco has received over €5 billion in funding, of which 30% was granted to the private sector. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the EIB has stepped up its support for businesses in need of liquidity. The Bank has also supported education in Morocco by, for instance, providing the Euro-Mediterranean University of Fes with funding. As a result, the university can ensure the continued education of its scholarship students thanks to the purchase of IT equipment, which can also be used to produce face masks.