4.1 Potentially conflicting European and international applications 

Generally, where the international search is concluded less than eighteen months after the international filing date of the application, it will not be possible at the time of the search to make a complete search for potentially conflicting European and international applications. This search therefore has to be completed during the mandatory top-up search if a demand under Chapter II PCT has been made (see GL/PCT‑EPO C‑IV, 5) or alternatively at the examination stage by the Examining Division if the application enters the European phase before the EPO (see GL/EPO C‑IV, 7.1).