Community Patent (Extract from Results of the Competitiveness Council, 22 Sep)

Brussels, 23 rd September 2003

Commissioner Bolkestein recalled to Ministers "how pleased we all were with the common political approach adopted on 3 rd March, which was the long-awaited breakthrough that would lead to rapid finalisation of the Community Patent Regulation. The remaining details would be 'more or less' technical. But here we are, more than six months after the political agreement, and our officials are still struggling with issues concerning translations and compulsory licensing! The Commission is of course willing to show some flexibility to reach a compromise but so should all Member States! We should be able to fill the remaining gaps without further delay.

The Council took note of a progress report on the state of play regarding the draft Regulation creating a Community Patent. The Council confirmed the importance it attaches to concluding work on all aspects of the Community patent system at a short delay.

Therefore, the Council invited the Committee of Member States' Permanent Representatives (COREPER) to examine pending questions in order to be in a position of reaching a political agreement on the draft Regulation and on the modification of the European Patent Convention at its November meeting.

DN: MEMO/03/181 Date: 23/09/2003