Trade secrets: new rules to fight corporate spying without restricting fundamental liberties

"This report on trade secrets offers concrete solutions for fighting industrial espionage, whilst guaranteeing freedom of expression and information - starting with the freedom of the press and the activities of whistleblowers," said Constance le Grip MEP, author, on the eve of a vote on a report on protecting trade secrets in plenary in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

"The rules, including measures to protect trade secrets and sanction breaches, which up until now have been very fragmented across national laws, will be harmonised so as to set a common legal basis for all Member States," said Constance le Grip.

“With one company out of every five a victim of theft of trade secrets every year, harmonisation should allow the creation of a safe and trustworthy environment for European companies, which will see their intangible assets and know-how secured,” added the Rapporteur.

"On behalf of the EPP Group, I've been fighting to ensure the guarantees on safeguarding the work of journalists and whistleblowers in this text are as real and as non-ambiguous as can be. Moreover, we maintained the free movement of workers to facilitate  knowledge flow and information exchange between European companies and to further increase the EU's competitiveness," concluded Constance le Grip.