EU INTEGRATION MINISTER HELPS AVERT

UNCLAS ZAGREB 002004 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD KIPR EU HR SUBJECT: EU INTEGRATION MINISTER HELPS AVERT DISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT OF U.S. DRUG FIRMS (SBU) On November 8, the Ambassador met with Minister of European Integration, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, to discuss implementation of the Intellectual Property MOU. Kitarovic explained that an amendment to the Drug Law was being considered which would provide the U.S. and the EU different periods of data exclusivity. The Ambassador strongly objected, saying that discriminatory treatment was unacceptable, and a very bad signal to foreign investors. Kitarovic admitted this treatment was problematic under Croatian law as well, and pledged to do her best to rectify the situation. Kitarovic later informed the Ambassador that she had succeeded in ensuring that a non-discriminatory version of the amendment would be considered. While the final language of the provision is still being discussed, the GoC now understands that we will not tolerate differential treatment. YY PRIORITY BUCHAREST PRIORITY BUDAPEST PRIORITY LJUBLJANA PRIORITY SOFIA PRIORITY WARSAW PRIORITY DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY USMISSION GENEVA Y UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS NNNN