Article 79⁷³
Designation of Contracting States

(1) All the Contracting States party to this Convention at the time of filing of the European patent application shall be deemed to be designated in the request for grant of a European patent. 

(2)⁷⁴ The designation of a Contracting State may be subject to the payment of a designation fee. 

(3) The designation of a Contracting State may be withdrawn at any time up to the grant of the European patent.