General Part
6. Contracting states to the EPC
The following states are contracting states* to the EPC (date of effect of the ratification in brackets):
Albania |
(1 May 2010) |
Austria |
(1 May 1979) |
Belgium |
(7 October 1977) |
Bulgaria |
(1 July 2002) |
Croatia |
(1 January 2008) |
Cyprus |
(1 April 1998) |
Czech Republic |
(1 July 2002) |
Denmark1 |
(1 January 1990) |
Estonia |
(1 July 2002) |
Finland |
(1 March 1996) |
France2 |
(7 October 1977) |
Germany |
(7 October 1977) |
Greece |
(1 October 1986) |
Hungary |
(1 January 2003) |
Iceland |
(1 November 2004) |
Ireland |
(1 August 1992) |
Italy |
(1 December 1978) |
Latvia |
(1 July 2005) |
Liechtenstein |
(1 April 1980) |
Lithuania |
(1 December 2004) |
Luxembourg |
(7 October 1977) |
Malta |
(1 March 2007) |
Monaco |
(1 December 1991) |
Montenegro |
(1 October 2022) |
Netherlands3 |
(7 October 1977) |
Republic of North Macedonia |
(1 January 2009) |
Norway |
(1 January 2008) |
Poland |
(1 March 2004) |
Portugal |
(1 January 1992) |
Romania |
(1 March 2003) |
Serbia |
(1 October 2010) |
San Marino |
(1 July 2009) |
Slovak Republic |
(1 July 2002) |
Slovenia |
(1 December 2002) |
Spain |
(1 October 1986) |
Sweden |
(1 May 1978) |
Switzerland |
(7 October 1977) |
Türkiye |
(1 November 2000) |
United Kingdom4 |
(7 October 1977) |
(total: 39)
*An up-to-date list of the contracting states to the EPC is published each year in issue No. 4 of the Official Journal of the EPO on epo.org (see epo.org/en/about-us/foundation/member-states).
1The EPC does not apply to Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
2The EPC applies to the territory of the French Republic, including the overseas territories.
3The EPC is also applicable to Sint Maarten, Curaçao, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, but not to Aruba.
4The EPC is also applicable to the Isle of Man. For further information on the registration of European patents (UK) in crown dependencies, UK overseas territories and Commonwealth countries, see OJ EPO 2018, A97.