Member States and the European Commission met in Stockholm on December 14th under the umbrella of the European Observatory for Counterfeiting and Piracy, to build on practical initiatives to respond to the increasing threat of counterfeiting and piracy in the EU. Launched by Internal Market and Services Commissioner Charlie McCreevy last April, the Observatory will work on existing legal frameworks and establish a databank on the specific areas of threat facing the EU. The meeting, hosted by the Swedish Presidency, is a major step on a collaborative effort that is being developed by Member States and the Commission. [more]