Brussels, 19 May 2003
The Council will took note of written information by the Presidency concerning the state of play on the revised proposal for a Regulation on a Community Patent and the Presidency's intention to pursue actively work on the file, with a view to concluding discussions on the draft as soon as possible.
Following the adoption by the Council of its common political approach on a Community Patent on 3 March, the Presidency has submitted a revised text of the proposal which is currently under active consideration within the Council.
In addition, the Presidency intends to submit a revised draft of proposals for amending the European Patent Convention to take account of the Community patent, on which discussions may begin in June and should be completed under Italian Presidency. Furthermore, the Commission is expected to submit proposals in the coming months for the legal instruments necessary to put in place the jurisdictional arrangements for the Community Patent.