Publicat pe 20/02/2014

Following its demand yesterday for urgent action to accelerate the ratification of the unitary patent, EUROCHAMBRES welcomes the request of Commissioner Michel Barnier to add this topic to the agenda of today’s Competitiveness Council. Feedback from Chambers in several member states indicates that the process is tangled in administrative red tape and that a referendum is even required in Denmark.

“Protection of intellectual property is a crucial element in the EU’s competitiveness and a major factor in achieving the industrial renaissance that ministers will be discussing today”, according to EUROCHAMBRES’ Secretary General, Arnaldo Abruzzini.

“We fully support Commissioner Barnier’s request to discuss the unitary patent at the Competitiveness Council therefore and hope that this will prove a catalyst for swifter measures”, highlighted Mr Abruzzini.

The Commissioner for Internal Market and Services has frequently spoken of a personal ambition to see the first unitary patent before the end of his tenure in late 2014. EUROCHAMBRES believes that Barnier’s aim would represent a positive message to the business community as the EU enters a new legislative term.

“The ball is in the governments’ court. Let us hope that, starting from today’s Competitiveness Council, national authorities take their responsibilities and ensure that the unitary patent becomes a reality for businesses with a minimum delay”, added the Secretary General.

Last year, on 19th February, 24 EU Member States signed an intergovernmental agreement to create a European patent court. One year later, only Austria and Malta have ratified the agreement, while France and Belgium are finalising the ratification process. This is still way far from reaching the minimum threshold of 13 ratifying countries.