European Crafts Alliance
ECA
ECA is a non-profit network organisation that promotes knowledge sharing, growth, preservation and valorisation of crafts.
ID: 975218830723-71
Lobbying Activity
Meeting with Henna Virkkunen (Executive Vice-President) and
7 Nov 2025 · Importance of creative industries for Europe
23 Apr 2025
The European Crafts Alliance (ECA) is an established non-profit network with almost 40 member organisations from more than 20 European countries that promotes knowledge sharing, growth, preservation and valorisation of crafts. Working in collaboration with our member craft organisations from across the European continent and participating in the discussions of the CIGI expert working group that we have lead together with FFIGIA, we have been able to collect information from our members as well as various stakeholders that raise their concerns in regards to the draft implementing act for Regulation No 2411/2023. It is essential to take into account the actual circumstances of craft businesses, along with the control and certification systems that have been in place for several years in certain countries such as Portugal and France, which have demonstrated their effectiveness in ensuring traceability and credibility. Our common priority is the strong protection of heritage products. Therefore, we hope the upcoming CIGIs framework will recognize the unique features of craft products, enabling a significant part of the craft sector to benefit from this valuable tool for EU products, producers, and regions. Please find in the attached file our specific suggestions.
Read full responseResponse to Geographical indication protection at EU level for non-agricultural products
12 Jul 2022
WCCE is an international non-governmental association uniting professional, regional and national stakeholders from the craft sector of 21 European countries.
As an umbrella association, WCCE represents the entire socio-economic scope and cultural diversity of craftspeople.
WCCE welcomes the work on the initiative on the EU protection of geographical indications for non-agricultural products, as it bears encouraging signals for craftspeople, consumers of handicraft products, and for the development of local and regional socio-economic structures.
The craft sector differs from country to country, yet everywhere it shows a dynamic positive trend in its impact on the development of education, employment, and entrepreneurship.
Crafts are the backbone of a local economy. Covid-19 and its aftermath have demonstrated the key role of crafts in strengthening local markets and in restarting the tourism industry, which has suffered the most.
Over and above, crafts positively affects the local communities´ labour market. Under attractive conditions, craft´s development can reduce labour migration, thus strengthening the development of rural areas.
At the same time, openness to innovation and experimenting makes craftspeople the main drivers and authors of digital and green transition.
Conscious production and consumption turn both, craftspeople and customers, into trend setters towards a sustainable European path.
Being daily in touch with our craft members on the ground, makes us well aware of their woes and concerns with regard to the thriving volume of low-quality and non-environmental products sold in bulk to resellers and consumers from territories outside the European continent.
Therefore, we support equal protection and a well-functioning internal market for CI geographically-rooted products, covering all categories, as well as the associated necessity to protect non-agricultural products at the same level as agricultural products. Yet, in order for the initiative to benefit all participants, attention should be paid to take into account the difference in approach to Agri and non-Agri segments, especially issues like categorization of raw materials, since in certain craft industries, highly recognized craftspeople, producing for their local market, when realizing their creative ideas and delivering their premium quality implementation, regularly rely on raw materials purchased partially or completely in another geographical region.
What really makes a craft product or craft object so unique is the creative production process involving the craftsman, a creator and a genuine carrier of knowledge, skills, and traditions, performing his activities at a certain geographical location.
Under a Member States Two-stage system, inter-operability at the EU Level should ensure a smooth transition for countries, creating a transparent and equal playfield for all parties. To this end, MSMEs should be given easy access to the competent authorities designated to perform the verification of the compliance with the product specification with regard to CI GIs.
We would also like to draw attention to the significance of emphasizing the need for simplicity and clarity of the relevant procedures passed down to national agencies and the craftspeople for implementation. Most of all, artisans should feel a new chance rather than an extra burden of red tape when going through the procedure.
Given the illegal use of the name of an artisan by a counterfeiter or by a producer/seller in another European region and also the current patchwork of divergent country rules, the rights protection procedure with respect to craftspeople should aim at harmonizing the legal situation and working out a solid common legal framework for CI GIs for our member MSMEs at Union level, with a clear algorithm, both within the artisan´s home country and within the EU zone, thus creating legal certainty.
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