EU leaders call for Community patent and Galileo funding decision
Meeting in Laeken, Belgium on 14 and 15 December, the EU's Heads of State and Government called for a rapid introduction of a Community patent and a decision the funding of Galileo, Europe's satellite navigation system. Stressing the importance of encouraging innovation and the role of patents therein, the European Council called on the Internal Market Council to hold a meeting on 20 December in order to reach an agreement on a flexible instrument with as low as possible costs, which will comply with the principle of non-discrimination between Member States' undertakings and ensure a high level of quality. The European Council reaffirmed the strategic importance of the Galileo project and welcomed the decision of the European space agency (ESA) to provide 550 million euro for the project. The leaders called on the Transport Council to make a decision on Community funding the development phase by March 2002, and to decide on regulation by June 2002. Although the establishment of a European Food Authority was welcomed by the Council, the meeting closed without an agreement on where the institution should be based. The Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, rejected the Belgian Presidency's preferred site, Helsinki. The European Council welcomed the adoption of a common position by the Research Council on the Sixth Framework programme for research and development.
Countries
Belgium