"Spain is in a position to head up the European Union in economic, political, social and cultural terms", says Íñigo Méndez de Vigo

These were his words during a speech he gave at the inaugural session of the 139th edition of the annual meeting of the International Trademark Association (INTA) which, for only the fourth time has been held outside of the United States, with Barcelona chosen to host this meeting.

Íñigo Méndez de Vigo insisted that Spain is an "important part of Europe's economic and social cohesion", and pointed to our country's experience "in the fight against terrorism, and also in terms of inclusive economic growth that creates jobs".

In that regard, he underlined that Spain is a "thriving country" that has "become strong" over the course of many centuries by "overcoming difficulties", and illustrated this statement by referring to the difference between the economic situation of our country in 2012 and in 2017.

"In 2012, the public deficit stood at 9.3% of GDP, the unemployment rate stood at 27.16%, investor confidence was at an all-time low and the risk premium exceeded 660 basis points. We were on the verge of bankruptcy. In 2017, the whole panorama is different: we are the Eurozone country with the fastest rate of economic growth, our public deficit has fallen to 4.33% of GDP and we are heading up the reduction in unemployment with half of the jobs being created in the European Union taking place in Spain", he said.

The Minister for Education, Culture and Sport attributed this change in situation "to the rational explanation of reforms, budget responsibility and the desire of the Spanish people to come out on top", rather than "to a Spanish miracle". "He claimed that "this is the secret that has allowed us not only to grow but also to generate confidence whilst always guaranteeing all the key public services".

Spain, convinced by the European project

Íñigo Méndez de Vigo mentioned the situation Europe finds itself in following the decision by the United Kingdom to leave the European Union, and stressed that "now is the time to push on with building Europe", while making it clear that this is a project that must be carried out "by those who are convinced by it. As indeed Spain is".

Consequently, he once again insisted on Spain's leading role in this regard "given the new international scenario", stressing that this situation "also requires reconsidering the role of the different players, including the European Union".

"It was necessary to have a common space based on liberty, security and respect for fundamental rights. A space for harmony and understanding that has allowed us to rebuild together following the Second World War, and also to grow together with a view to a future of geopolitical changes that we knew would arrive".

Trademarks are the reflection of a country and help create jobs

The Minister for Education, Culture and Sport welcomed the fact that the annual meeting of the International Trademark Association - "the Davos of trademarks" - was being held in "a country at the forefront in terms of protecting trademarks".

During his speech, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo advocated the "need and importance" for creating a stable framework that guarantees trademarks, since these are "the reflection of a country" and help generate "jobs and wealth".

To illustrate this, he pointed to the report issued by the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (Spanish acronym: OEPM) and the Association for the Defence of Trademarks (Spanish acronym: ANDEMA), and drafted by the University of Alicante, which stressed that 75.04% of the total volume of Spanish exports (257.79 billion euros) correspond to exports made by Spanish companies that protect their trademarks as a differentiating intangible asset, something which in terms of employment translates into more than 4 million jobs.

In this regard, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo called for "no hesitation" in protecting them and offering them legal certainty, "a concern also shared by the European Union".

For that reason, he highlighted that over the last decade the European Union has strengthened its measures in this field, seeking to harmonise national legislation in the different Member States, particularly following the entry into force in 2009 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which conferred power to the EU on intellectual property rights under Article 118.

"We want to achieve an anti-piracy generation"

Íñigo Méndez de Vigo argued that Spain "is committed" and "is working" to combat piracy and mentioned, by way of example, "the mechanisms" taught at school, "in other words, before the problem is created".

In this regard, he committed to achieving "an anti-piracy generation", whereby children are taught to respect the intellectual property of creators.

"In the same way as they are taught, in other areas, that stealing is wrong, unfair, and prosecuted by the law, we must explain to them that illegally downloading a song or a film, or buying a counterfeit product is also stealing", he stated.

The Minister for Education, Culture and Sport also highlighted the legal framework on which Spain is working to protect copyright and stressed the government's intention to "reach agreements with all parties involved to enhance protection for creators", during this term of office.

In this regard, he emphasised the Special Report 301 drawn up by the United States and published on 28 April, "praising our intellectual property policy" and backing the progress being made in the fight against piracy, pointing to Spain "as a country that provides suitable and effective protection for copyright".