EU-wide patent is vital, despite disagreements - Swedish presidency
The importance of a single European patent was emphasised again on 12 March by Swedish minister for trade, Leif Pagrotsky, following the break up of the single market, consumer affairs and tourism Council in Brussels without agreement on the issue. 'A single EU patent is vital to the modernisation of the European Union,' he said. 'It is essential in today's knowledge-based society that the EU boost its competitiveness in the global arena.' Despite the lack of agreement, which came about after Spain and Portugal rejected a compromise text submitted to the Council by the Swedish Presidency, Mr Pagrotsky remained upbeat. 'I hope this setback will give us something to think about and that it does not prevent us from introducing a single patent in conformity with the timetable agreed on earlier,' he said referring to the Lisbon summit requesting the establishment of a basis for a European patent by the end of 2001. But he warned that the consequences of not getting agreement on the issue could have an effect on European companies' competitiveness. 'The introduction of a single patent would make patent registration in EU countries a great deal cheaper, simpler and quicker. This is essential if European companies and investors are not to lag behind their international competitors.' Commenting on the background to the impasse, a Swedish official said that there had been many issues brought up in the debate on the patent, which lasted several hours, but that 'the signal that this text would have sent to the EPO (European patent office) in Germany was one of the obstacles, with language, the role of national patent offices and judicial problems being others.' He said that further discussions with the Commission would now take place about how to move the issue forward, and that the Swedish Presidency would intensify work on the issue in the working group. He added that it is possible that the issue will be presented again at the June Council.
Kraje
Sweden